Hurricane Safety Tips: Hurricane Terms

TROPICAL STORM
Winds of 39-73 mph

HURRICANE WATCH
Possible threat to area within 24 to 36 hours

HURRICANE WARNING
Hurricane conditions expected within 12-24 hours

HURRICANE
Constant wind speed of 74 mph +

STORM SURGE (The deadliest threat)
From the National Hurricane Center, “Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the mean water level 15 feet or more. In addition, wind driven waves are superimposed on the storm tide. This rise in water level can cause severe flooding in coastal areas, particularly when the storm tide coincides with the normal high tides. Because much of the United States’ densely populated Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines lie less than 10 feet above mean sea level, the danger from storm tides is tremendous.

HURRICANE DAMAGE POTENTIAL SCALE

(Saffir/Simpson Scale)

CATEGORY	WINDS (mph)	TIDES (feet)	DAMAGES
1	74-95	4 -5	Minimal
2	96-110	6-8	Moderate
3	111-130	9-12	Extensive
4	131-155	13-18	Extreme
5	156 +	18 +	Catastrophic

Measures strength and impact of a Hurricane

Minimal

• Damage to shrubs and tree foliage
• Damage to unanchored mobile homes
• No real damage to other structures
• Low-lying coastal roads flooded
• Minor pier damage
• Small boats in exposed areas torn from moorings

Moderate

• Some small trees uprooted
• Major damage to mobile homes
• Some damage to roof materials
• Considerable damage to piers and marinas flooded
• Coastal roads and low-lying escape routes cut off
• Evacuation of shoreline homes in low-lying areas

Extensive

• Large trees blown down
• Mobile homes destroyed
• Damage to roofs, windows and doors
• Structural damage to small buildings
• Major beach erosion and coastal flooding
• Possible evacuation of residents within 500 yards of shore
• Possible evacuation of low-lying one-story homes within 2 miles of shore

Extreme

• Signs blown down
• Mobile Homes Destroyed
• Complete failure of roofs on small homes
• Flat terrain less than 10 ft above sea level flooded

Catastrophic

• Massive evacuation of low-lying areas within 5-10 miles of shore
• Major damage to structures less than 15 ft above sea level near shore

Tagged as: Hurricane Safety