Once a low-pressure system has made the journey from tropical depression up to hurricane, it becomes classified using the Saffir-Simplson Hurricane Scale. Herbert Saffir, a civil engineer, and the director of the National Hurricane Center, Bob Simpson, developed this scale in 1969. This scale, only used to classify hurricanes that form in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific, ranks hurricanes by how much flooding and damage they are expected to cause when over land based on their sustained winds.
Category 1
Sustained winds 74–95 mph; storm surge 4-5 feet; potential damage mainly to trees, unanchored mobile homes and vehicles. Homes and other firm structures would take zero to minimal damage from a Category 1 Hurricane. Coastal flooding could occur.
Category 2
Sustained winds 96–110 mph; storm surge 6-8 feet; potential damage strong to trees, mobile homes and vehicles. Homes and other firm structures would suffer mainly roofing damage and broken windows from a Category 2 Hurricane. Flooding likely and could cause moored water craft to break their moorings.
Category 3
Sustained winds 111–130 mph; storm surge 9-12 feet; potential damage will most likely destroy mobile homes and smaller structures. Larger structures will take severe damage and can be hurt by flood debris. Flooding can move inland with a Category 3 Hurricane.
Category 4
Sustained winds 131–155 mph; storm surge 13-18 feet; potential damage will include the roof failure and total destruction of smaller structures. Flooding could move far inland, causing damage from a Category 4 Hurricane to reach areas normally untouched by coastal storms.
Category 5
Sustained winds equal to or greater than 156 mph; storm surge equal to or greater than 19feet; potential damage will include total destruction of smaller structures, possible roof collapse or destruction of larger structures. Residential evacuation of large areas is common for a Category 5 Hurricane.