Category Winds
(1 min
sustained
winds in mph,
kt, and km/hr)
Summary People,
Livestock, and
Pets
Mobile Homes Frame Homes Apartments,
Shopping Centers,
and Industrial
Buildings
High-Rise
Windows and
Glass
Signage,
Fences, and
Canopies
Trees Power and
Water
Example
1 74-95 mph
64-82 kt
119-153 km/hr
Very dangerous
winds will
produce some
damage
People, livestock,
and pets struck by
flying or falling
debris could be
injured or killed.
Older (mainly pre-1994
construction) mobile
homes could be
destroyed, especially if
they are not anchored
properly as they tend to
shift or roll off their
foundations. Newer
mobile homes that are
anchored properly can
sustain damage
involving the removal
of shingle or metal roof
coverings, and loss of
vinyl siding, as well as
damage to carports,
sunrooms, or lanais.
Some poorly constructed
frame homes can experience
major damage, involving loss
of the roof covering and
damage to gable ends as well
as the removal of porch
coverings and awnings.
Unprotected windows may
break if struck by flying
debris. Masonry chimneys
can be toppled. Well-
constructed frame homes
could have damage to roof
shingles, vinyl siding, soffit
panels, and gutters. Failure
of aluminum, screened-in,
swimming pool enclosures
can occur.
Some apartment building
and shopping center roof
coverings could be
partially removed.
Industrial buildings can
lose roofing and siding
especially from
windward corners, rakes,
and eaves. Failures to
overhead doors and
unprotected windows will
be common.
Windows in high-
rise buildings can
be broken by
flying debris.
Falling and
broken glass will
pose a significant
danger even after
the storm.
There will be
occasional
damage to
commercial
signage, fences,
and canopies.
Large
branches of
trees will
snap and
shallow
rooted trees
can be
toppled.
Extensive
damage to
power lines and
poles will likely
result in power
outages that
could last a few
to several days.
Hurricane Dolly
(2008) is an
example of a
hurricane that
brought Category
1 winds and
impacts to South
Padre Island,
Texas.
Category Winds
(1 min
sustained
winds in mph,
kt, and km/hr)
Summary People,
Livestock, and
Pets
Mobile Homes Frame Homes Apartments,
Shopping Centers,
and Industrial
Buildings
High-Rise
Windows and
Glass
Signage,
Fences, and
Canopies
Trees Power and
Water
Example
2 96-110 mph
83-95 kt
154-177 km/hr
Extremely
dangerous winds
will cause
extensive damage
There is a
substantial risk of
injury or death to
people, livestock,
and pets due to
flying and falling
debris.
Older (mainly pre-1994
construction) mobile
homes have a very high
chance of being
destroyed and the
flying debris generated
can shred nearby
mobile homes. Newer
mobile homes can also
be destroyed.
Poorly constructed frame
homes have a high chance of
having their roof structures
removed especially if they
are not anchored properly.
Unprotected windows will
have a high probability of
being broken by flying
debris. Well-constructed
frame homes could sustain
major roof and siding
damage. Failure of
aluminum, screened-in,
swimming pool enclosures
will be common.
There will be a
substantial percentage of
roof and siding damage
to apartment buildings
and industrial buildings.
Unreinforced masonry
walls can collapse.
Windows in high-
rise buildings can
be broken by
flying debris.
Falling and
broken glass will
pose a significant
danger even after
the storm.
Commercial
signage, fences,
and canopies will
be damaged and
often destroyed.
Many
shallowly
rooted trees
will be
snapped or
uprooted and
block
numerous
roads.
Near-total
power loss is
expected with
outages that
could last from
several days to
weeks. Potable
water could
become scarce
as filtration
systems begin
to fail.
Hurricane
Frances (2004) is
an example of a
hurricane that
brought Category
2 winds and
impacts to coastal
portions of Port
St. Lucie, Florida
with Category 1
conditions
experienced
elsewhere in the
city.
Category Winds
(1 min
sustained
winds in mph,
kt, and km/hr)
Summary People,
Livestock, and
Pets
Mobile Homes Frame Homes Apartments,
Shopping Centers,
and Industrial
Buildings
High-Rise
Windows and
Glass
Signage,
Fences, and
Canopies
Trees Power and
Water
Example
3 111-130 mph
96-113 kt
178-209 km/hr
Devastating
damage will
occur
There is a high
risk of injury or
death to people,
livestock, and
pets due to flying
and falling debris.
Nearly all older (pre-
1994) mobile homes
will be destroyed.
Most newer mobile
homes will sustain
severe damage with
potential for complete
roof failure and wall
collapse.
Poorly constructed frame
homes can be destroyed by
the removal of the roof and
exterior walls. Unprotected
windows will be broken by
flying debris. Well-built
frame homes can experience
major damage involving the
removal of roof decking and
gable ends.
There will be a high
percentage of roof
covering and siding
damage to apartment
buildings and industrial
buildings. Isolated
structural damage to
wood or steel framing
can occur. Complete
failure of older metal
buildings is possible, and
older unreinforced
masonry buildings can
collapse.
Numerous
windows will be
blown out of
high-rise
buildings
resulting in
falling glass,
which will pose a
threat for days to
weeks after the
storm.
Most commercial
signage, fences,
and canopies will
be destroyed.
Many trees
will be
snapped or
uprooted,
blocking
numerous
roads.
Electricity and
water will be
unavailable for
several days to
a few weeks
after the storm
passes.
Hurricane Ivan
(2004) is an
example of a
hurricane that
brought Category
3 winds and
impacts to coastal
portions of Gulf
Shores, Alabama
with Category 2
conditions
experienced
elsewhere in this
city.
Category Winds
(1 min
sustained
winds in mph,
kt, and km/hr)
Summary People,
Livestock, and
Pets
Mobile Homes Frame Homes Apartments,
Shopping Centers,
and Industrial
Buildings
High-Rise
Windows and
Glass
Signage,
Fences, and
Canopies
Trees Power and
Water
Example
4 131-155 mph
114-135 kt
210-249 km/hr
Catastrophic
damage will
occur
There is a very
high risk of injury
or death to
people, livestock,
and pets due to
flying and falling
debris.
Nearly all older (pre-
1994) mobile homes
will be destroyed. A
high percentage of
newer mobile homes
also will be destroyed.
Poorly constructed homes
can sustain complete collapse
of all walls as well as the loss
of the roof structure. Well-
built homes also can sustain
severe damage with loss of
most of the roof structure
and/or some exterior walls.
Extensive damage to roof
coverings, windows, and
doors will occur. Large
amounts of windborne debris
will be lofted into the air.
Windborne debris damage
will break most unprotected
windows and penetrate some
protected windows.
There will be a high
percentage of structural
damage to the top floors
of apartment buildings.
Steel frames in older
industrial buildings can
collapse. There will be a
high percentage of
collapse to older
unreinforced masonry
buildings.
Most windows
will be blown out
of high-rise
buildings
resulting in
falling glass,
which will pose a
threat for days to
weeks after the
storm.
Nearly all
commercial
signage, fences,
and canopies will
be destroyed.
Most trees
will be
snapped or
uprooted and
power poles
downed.
Fallen trees
and power
poles will
isolate
residential
areas.
Power outages
will last for
weeks to
possibly
months. Long-
term water
shortages will
increase human
suffering. Most
of the area will
be
uninhabitable
for weeks or
months.
Hurricane
Charley (2004) is
an example of a
hurricane that
brought Category
4 winds and
impacts to coastal
portions of Punta
Gorda, Florida
with Category 3
conditions
experienced
elsewhere in the
city.
Category Winds
(1 min
sustained
winds in
mph, kt, and
km/hr)
Summary People,
Livestock, and
Pets
Mobile Homes Frame Homes Apartments,
Shopping Centers,
and Industrial
Buildings
High-Rise
Windows and
Glass
Signage,
Fences, and
Canopies
Trees Power and
Water
Example
5 > 155 mph
> 135 kt
> 249 km/hr
Catastrophic
damage will
occur
People, livestock,
and pets are at
very high risk of
injury or death
from flying or
falling debris,
even if indoors in
mobile homes or
framed homes.
Almost complete
destruction of all
mobile homes will
occur, regardless of age
or construction.
A high percentage of frame
homes will be destroyed,
with total roof failure and
wall collapse. Extensive
damage to roof covers,
windows, and doors will
occur. Large amounts of
windborne debris will be
lofted into the air.
Windborne debris damage
will occur to nearly all
unprotected windows and
many protected windows.
Significant damage to
wood roof commercial
buildings will occur due
to loss of roof sheathing.
Complete collapse of
many older metal
buildings can occur.
Most unreinforced
masonry walls will fail
which can lead to the
collapse of the buildings.
A high percentage of
industrial buildings and
low-rise apartment
buildings will be
destroyed.
Nearly all
windows will be
blown out of
high-rise
buildings
resulting in
falling glass,
which will pose a
threat for days to
weeks after the
storm.
Nearly all
commercial
signage, fences,
and canopies will
be destroyed.
Nearly all
trees will be
snapped or
uprooted and
power poles
downed.
Fallen trees
and power
poles will
isolate
residential
areas.
Power outages
will last for
weeks to
possibly
months. Long-
term water
shortages will
increase human
suffering. Most
of the area will
be
uninhabitable
for weeks or
months.
Hurricane
Andrew (1992) is
an example of a
hurricane that
brought Category
5 winds and
impacts to coastal
portions of Cutler
Ridge, Florida
with Category 4
conditions
experienced
elsewhere in
south Miami-
Dade County.