Saffir/Simpson
Hurricane Scale
All hurricanes are dangerous, but some are
more so than others. The way storm surge, wind, and other factors combine determines the
hurricane's destructive power. To make comparisons easier, and to make the predicted
hazards of approaching hurricanes clearer to emergency forces, hurricane forecasters use a
disaster-potential scale, which assigns storms to five categories. Category I is a minimum
hurricane; category 5 is the worst case scenario. The criteria for each category are shown
below. The winds are used in the determination of category.
Courtesy of the
National
Hurricane Center
This can be used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast with a hurricane.
This can be used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast with a hurricane.
| Category | Definition | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| One | Winds 74-95 mph | No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage |
| Two | Winds 96-110 mph | Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. |
| Three | Winds 111-130 mph | Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet ASL may be flooded inland 8 miles or more. |
| Four | Winds 131-155 mph | More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain continuously lower than 10 feet ASL may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas inland as far as 6 miles. |
| Five | Winds greater than 155 mph | Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet ASL and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of the shoreline may be required. |
