People, Livestock, and Pets

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.

Mobile Homes

Almost complete destruction of all mobile homes will occur, regardless of age or construction.

Frame Homes

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.

Apartments, Shopping Centers, and Industrial Buildings

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.

High-Rise Windows and Glass

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.

Signage, Fences, and Canopies

Nearly all commercial signage, fences, and canopies will be destroyed.

Trees

Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas.

Power and Water

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.

Examples: Hurricane Mitch of 1998 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity over the western Caribbean. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone of record. 

Category




4



130-156 mph
113-136 kts
209-251 km/h

Catastrophic
damage will occur!

People, Livestock, and Pets

There is a very high risk of injury or death to people, livestock, and pets due to flying and falling debris.

Mobile Homes

Nearly all older (pre-1994) mobile homes will be destroyed. A high percentage of newer mobile homes also will be destroyed.

Frame Homes

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.

Apartments, Shopping Centers, and Industrial Buildings

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.

High-Rise Windows and Glass

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.

Signage, Fences, and Canopies

Nearly all commercial signage, fences, and canopies will be destroyed.

Trees

Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas.

Power and Water

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.

Examples: Hurricane Luis of 1995 was a Category Four hurricane while moving over the Leeward Islands. Hurricanes Felix and Opal of 1995 also reached Category Four status at peak intensity. 

Category




3



111-129 mph
96-112 kts
178-208 km/h

Devastating
damage will occur.

People, Livestock, and Pets

There is a high risk of injury or death to people, livestock, and pets due to flying and falling debris.

Mobile Homes

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.

Frame Homes

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.

Apartments, Shopping Centers, and Industrial Buildings

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.

High-Rise Windows and Glass

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.

Signage, Fences, and Canopies

Most commercial signage, fences, and canopies will be destroyed.

Trees

Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads.

Power and Water

Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to a few weeks after the storm passes.

Examples: Hurricanes Roxanne of 1995 and Fran of 1996 were Category Three hurricanes at landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and in North Carolina, respectively. 

Category




2



96-110 mph
83-95 kts
154-177 km/h

Extremely
dangerous winds
will cause extensive
damage.

People, Livestock, and Pets

There is a substantial risk of injury or death to people, livestock, and pets due to flying and falling debris.

Mobile Homes

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.

Frame Homes

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.

Apartments, Shopping Centers, and Industrial Buildings

There will be a substantial percentage of roof and siding damage to apartment buildings and industrial buildings. Unreinforced masonry walls can collapse.

High-Rise Windows and Glass

Windows in high-rise buildings can be broken by flying debris. Falling and broken glass will pose a significant danger even after the storm.

Signage, Fences, and Canopies

Commercial signage, fences, and canopies will be damaged and often destroyed.

Trees

Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads.

Power and Water

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.

Examples: Hurricane Bonnie of 1998 was a Category Two hurricane when it hit the North Carolina coast, while Hurricane Georges of 1998 was a Category Two Hurricane when it hit the Florida Keys and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

Category




1



74-95 mph
64-82 kts
119-153 km/h

Very dangerous
winds will produce
some damage.

People, Livestock, and Pets

People, livestock, and pets struck by flying or falling debris could be injured or killed.

Mobile Homes

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.

Frame Homes

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.

Apartments, Shopping Centers, and Industrial Buildings

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.

High-Rise Windows and Glass

Windows in high-rise buildings can be broken by flying debris. Falling and broken glass will pose a significant danger even after the storm.

Signage, Fences, and Canopies

There will be occasional damage to commercial signage, fences, and canopies.

Trees

Large branches of trees will snap and shallow rooted trees can be toppled.

Power and Water

Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in power outages that could last a few to several days.

Examples: Hurricanes Allison of 1995 and Danny of 1997 were Category One hurricanes at peak intensity.