Categories of Hurricanes
We’ve all heard the weather reporter state that “Hurricane ‘x’ is now a Category 3 hurricane and headed for ________.” What does that mean?
Category Winds(mph) Type of Damage Expected Examples
1 74-95 Anything not tied down is going Irene, 1999
to be lost; don’t get hit by it.
2 96-110 Trees will go down. Roofs in Floyd, 1999
trouble. Georges, 1998
3 111-130 Many trees will go down, along Betsy, 1965
with small buildings Alicia, 1983
4 131-155 Complete failures of some small Hugo, 1989
buildings. Complete destruction
of many structures
5 156-> Catastrophe. Wrath of God. Andrew, 1992
Katrina, 2005
USCG hurricane aircraft reported Andrew and Katrina had generated winds over 200mph at various times of the storms…
Are You Ready For the Glancing Blow?
Look, if a Category-4 or -5 gets up here like in 1938, there are no levels of preparedness except evacuation. A storm surge like Camille’s basically means that everything “south of the highway”, as real estate agents like to classify the choicest properties on Long Island, is gone for all intents and purposes. But what if the glancing blow like Ivan’s in 2004 or, Earl, who just left town, came in head-on? How can you be ready?
Before the Storm Arrives
1. Have a family action plan – if you’re at caught at school or at work, who do
you call? To grandmother’s house we go?
2. flash lights working? Canned goods and water supplies? Cash? Portable
radio?
3. Where ARE you going to move the boat? Don’t even THINK about staying
on her…
4. How about your prescription medicines? A first-aid kit is WHERE…!?
During the Storm
1. Have the radio or TV on. If power goes out and you don’t have a portable
radio, I’d get the kids in the car and “to grandmother’s house we go…!”
2. Propane tanks on your property? Shut them off completely.
3. Turn the refrigerator up all the way and don’t open the door idly.
4. Fill the bath tub with water. How about the big spaghetti pot? Anything that
can hold water and keep it clean.
5. If ordered to evacuate, do so. Immediately. And tell someone where you are
going.
6. When evacuating, don’t drive across flowing water. 2’ of flowing water can
carry your car away. Yes. Only 2’ of moving water. Turn around and go
another way.
After the Storm
1. If you’ve been ordered to evacuate, don’t go back until the area is declared
safe.
2. If you see someone that needs rescuing, unless the threat of loss of life is
imminent, call 9-1-1.
3. See standing water? Do you know if any power cables lie in it?
4. Never use candles and other open flames indoors. Keep the flashlight at your
side…
This is by no means an exhaustive list. But Isaac just sent us a wake-up call.
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