Most hurricanes start out as tropical depressions. If they intensify enough, they grow into a tropical storm.
5 Categories
Category 1: Winds of 74-95 mph Damage primarily to shrubbery, tree foliage and un-anchored mobile homes. No real damage to other structures. Some damage to poorly constructed signs . Storm surge four to five feet above normal. Low lying coastal roads inundated. Minor pier damage. Small craft in exposed anchorages torn from moorings.
Category 2 Winds of 96-110 mph. Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage. Some trees down. Major damage to exposed mobile homes. Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs. Some damage to roofing. Storm surge six to eight feet above normal. Coastal roads and low lying inland escape routes blocked by rising water two to four hours before arrival of hurricane center. Considerable damage to piers. Marinas flooded. Evacuation of some shoreline residences and low lying islands required
Category 3 Winds of 111-130 mph. Foliage torn from trees, large trees blown over. Almost all poorly constructed signs down. Some damage to roofing; some window and door damage. Some structural damage to small buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Storm surge nine to 12 feet above normal . Serious flooding at coast and many smaller structures near coast and many smaller structures near coast destroyed. Larger structures near coast damaged by battering waves and floating debris. Low lying inland escape routes blocked by rising water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives. Flat terrain five feet or less above sea level flooded inland eight miles or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences within several blocks of shoreline possibly required.
Category 4 Winds of 131-155 mph Shrubs and trees down, all signs down. Extensive damage to roofing, windows and doors. Roof collapse. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Storm surge 13 to 18 feet above normal.Flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland as far as six miles. Major damage to lower floors of structure near shore due to flooding, waves and floating debris. Low lying water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives. Major erosion of beaches. Massive evacuation of all residences within 500 yards of shore possibly required, and of single-story residences on low ground within two miles of shore.
Category 5 Winds greater than 155 mph. Shrubs and trees down; considerable damage to roofing; all signs down. Severe and extensive damage to windows and doors. Complete roof collapse. Destruction of glass in windows and doors. Some complete building failures. Small buildings overturned or blown away. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Storm surge higher than 18 feet above normal. Major damage to lower floors of all structures less than 15 feet above sea level within 500 yards of shore. Low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within five to 10 miles of shore possibly required . This ad-free site relies on donations from visitors like yourself to continue to provide free, helpful information 24/7 to those who need it most.Please consider a small donation to keep this service running. Evacuations.mobi is another 100% free public service site from Idea Earth
