June 11, 2025 | Personal Injury
You’ve probably heard weather forecasts mention hurricanes in terms of categories, but understanding the full extent of what those labels actually mean can be tricky.
The Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale sorts storms into five categories based on sustained wind speeds. In the following guide, you’ll learn what separates each category and why those distinctions matter when a storm approaches an area like Vero Beach, Florida.
Category 1 Hurricanes
Category 1 hurricanes have sustained wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph. Though labeled “minimal,” these storms are still more than capable of ripping off roof shingles, damaging vinyl siding, and even tearing down gutters on well-built homes.
Power lines can often shatter under the force, as well, leaving residents without electricity for days and turning fallen branches into electrified hazards. Even loose outdoor items can become deadly projectiles, so securing yard objects before the lowest-category storm is crucial.
Category 2 Hurricanes
Category 2 hurricanes carry sustained winds between 96 and 110 mph, and their power steps up sharply from Category 1. These storms can rend roofing materials, crack doors, and shatter windows. Mobile homes, in particular, can be torn apart as gusts sweep through. And any nearby trees and plants are likely to suffer heavy damage as well.
Power lines and poles are not likely to survive a Category 2 storm either. Outages can spread quickly, and many neighborhoods may go without electricity for days or even weeks. Repairs take longer, too, as crews must replace more poles, wires, and transformers.
Hurricane Ike, which made landfall in 2008, showed how a Category 2 system can disrupt entire regions, leaving lasting effects on homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
Category 3 Hurricanes
By Category 3, hurricanes step into “major” territory, with winds ranging from 111 to 129 mph and driving widespread destruction. At such strength, even the most well-built homes can lose their roofs and have their walls collapse; mobile homes, in comparison, typically stand no chance.
When a Category 3 storm hits, you can expect power outages to last weeks, as crews must rebuild the electrical grid. That also means hospitals, water pumps, and emergency services will face serious challenges right when they’re needed most.
Storm surges in Category 3 systems can reach anywhere from nine to 12 feet above normal, sending water far inland. In flat, coastal areas that are less than ten feet above sea level, flooding can extend up to six miles from the shore. That kind of surge, combined with violent winds, forces large-scale evacuations and emergency planning.
Category 4 Hurricanes
Category 4 hurricanes bring sustained winds between 130 and 156 mph, pushing damage into truly catastrophic territory. Water can rise 13 to 18 feet above normal levels, filling the lower floors of coastal homes and hurling debris through windows.
As such a storm approaches, officials will most likely order everyone within 500 yards of the shore—even those living in single-story homes up to two miles inland—to evacuate. Both Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017 left communities underwater, homes uninhabitable, and infrastructure crippled for weeks, causing countless accidents in their wake.
Category 5 Hurricanes
Lastly (though certainly not least), Category 5 hurricanes have winds over 157 mph, causing devastation far exceeding anything the lower categories are capable of. Roofs are practically stripped off entire housing developments, walls collapse, with buildings are left as nothing more than empty shells. The storm surge of a Category 5 storm is typically over 18 feet above normal levels, too.
Both Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 are examples of just how overwhelming, even if rare, a Category 5 can be.
Preparing for a Hurricane by Its Category
The five Saffir-Simpson categories are meant to provide homeowners with a clear way to judge a storm’s severity. Grasping these differences helps communities, emergency planners, and residents prepare effectively and tailor their response to the exact level of threat a storm brings.
Contact a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer at Graves Thomas Injury Law Group for a Free Consultation
Don’t wait to get the help you need. If you’re suffering from persistent neck pain and suspect it may be tied to a traumatic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence, contact our experienced brain injury lawyers at Graves Thomas Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation today.
We have three convenient locations in Florida, including Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, and Port St. Lucie.
Graves Thomas Injury Law Group – Vero Beach
2651 20th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772) 758-5735
Graves Thomas Injury Law Group – St. Petersburg
200 Central Ave Suite 304
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(772) 569-8155
Graves Thomas Injury Law Group – Port St. Lucie
10805 SW Tradition Square Unit 024A
Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
(772) 617-8814
