Emergencies & Storms

Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season is June 1 through November 30


What you need to know: http://www.floridadisaster.org/family

External Links:

National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Preparedness Week
Florida Disaster: Evacuation and Surge Maps
National Hurricane Center: Satellite Imagery
Florida Disaster.org
 

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale


Category
Wind speed in
mph
(km/h)
Storm surge in ft
(m)

Description
5
156
(250)
>18
(>5.5)
Complete roof failure on homes and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures. Severe and extensive window and door damage.
4
131-155
(210-249)
13-18
(4.0-5.5)
Wall failures in homes and complete roof structure failure on small homes. Total destruction of mobile homes. Trees, shrubs, and signs all blown down.
3
111-130
(178-209)
9-12
(2.7-3.7)
Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings. Large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly built signs destroyed.
2
96-110
(154-177)
6-8
(1.8-2.4)
Some damage to building roofs, doors and windows. Considerable damage to mobile homes. Some trees blown down.
1
74-95
(119-153)
4-5
(1.2-1.5)
No real damage to buildings. Damage to unanchored mobile homes. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.
Tropical
Storm

39-73
(63-117)
0-3
(0-0.9)
Stronger than a tropical depression, the characteristic, cyclonic shape starts to develop.
Tropical
Depression

0-38
(0-62)
0
(0)
An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation with no organization or spiral shape.