Category 1

• Winds of 74-95 mph
• Damage primarily to shrubbery, tree foliage and unanchored mobile homes
• No real damage to other structures
• Some damage to poorly constructed signs
• Storm surge four to five feet above normal
• Low lying coastal roads inundated
• Minor pier damage
• Small craft in exposed anchorages torn from moorings

Category 2

• Winds of 96-110 mph. Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage
• Some trees down Major damage to exposed mobile homes
• Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs
• Some damage to roofing
• Storm surge six to eight feet above normal
• Coastal roads and low lying inland escape routes blocked by rising water two to four hours before arrival of hurricane center. Considerable damage to piers.
• Marinas flooded
• Small craft in unprotected anchorages torn from moorings
• Evacuation of some shoreline residences and low lying islands required

Category 3

• Winds of 111-130 mph. Foliage torn from trees, large trees blown over
• Almost all poorly constructed signs down
• Some damage to roofing; some window and door damage
• Some structural damage to small buildings
• Mobile homes destroyed
• Storm surge nine to 12 feet above normal
• Serious flooding at coast and many smaller structures near coast and many smaller structures near coast destroyed
• Larger structures near coast damaged by battering waves and floating debris
• Low lying inland escape routes blocked by rising water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives
• Flat terrain five feet or less above sea level flooded inland eight miles or more
• Evacuation of low-lying residences within several blocks of shoreline possibly required.

Category 4

• Winds of 131-155 mph
• Shrubs and trees down, all signs down
• Extensive damage to roofing, windows and doors
• Roof collapse
• Complete destruction of mobile homes
• Storm surge 13 to 18 feet above normal
• Flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland as far as six miles
• Major damage to lower floors of structure near shore due to flooding, waves and floating debris
• Low lying water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives
• Major erosion of beaches
• Massive evacuation of all residences within 500 yards of shore possibly required, and of single-story residences on low ground within two miles of shore

Category 5

• Winds greater than 155 mph. Shrubs and trees down; considerable damage to roofing; all signs down.
• Severe and extensive damage to windows and doors
• Complete roof collapse
• Destruction of glass in windows and doors. Some complete building failures
• Small buildings overturned or blown away
• Complete destruction of mobile homes
• Storm surge higher than 18 feet above normal
• Major damage to lower floors of all structures less than 15 feet above sea level within 500 yards of shore
• Low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives
• Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within five to 10 miles of shore possibly required