The
Saffir-Simpson
Scale
assigns hurricanes to five categories based on wind speed
and damage potential. Descriptions of the categories are
below:
q
Category One
- Winds 74-95 mph.
Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. Damage primarily
to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery and trees. Some damage
to poorly constructed signs. Some coastal road flooding and
minor pier damage.
q
Category Two
- Winds 96-110 mph.
Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some damage to
building roofing material, doors and windows. Considerable
damage to shrubbery and trees. Some trees blown down.
Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed
signs and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood
2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small
craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings.
q
Category
Three - Winds
111-130 mph. Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal.
Some structural damage to residences and utility buildings.
Minor amount of curtain wall failures. Damage to shrubbery
with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down.
Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs destroyed.
Low-lying escape routes cut off by rising water 3-5 hours
before arrival of the hurricane center. Flooding near the
coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures
damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain lower
than 5 feet above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8
miles or more. Evacuation of residences within several
blocks of the shoreline may be required.
q
Category Four
- Winds 131-155
mph. Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More
extensive curtain wall failures. Some complete roof
structure failures. Shrubs, trees and all signs blown down.
Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to
building doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be
cut off by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the
hurricane center. Major damage to lower floors of structures
near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may
flood, requiring massive evacuations as far inland as 6
miles.
q
Category Five
- Winds greater
than 155 mph. Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above
normal. Complete roof failure on many buildings. Some
complete building failures. All shrubs, trees and signs
blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Low-lying
escape routes cut off by rising water 3-5 hours before
arrival of the hurricane center. Major damage to lower
floors of structures located less than 15 ft above sea level
and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of
low areas within 10 miles of the shoreline may be required.
