About Hurricanes
What Is a Hurricane?
Hurricanes, tropical storms, and typhoons are collectively
known as tropical cyclones. They are among the most devastating,
naturally occurring-hazard in the United States and its territories.
Tropical cyclones are classified as follows:
Hurricane - An intense tropical weather system
with a well defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of
74 mph (64 knots) or higher. In the western Pacific, hurricanes
are called "typhoons." Similar storms in the Indian Ocean are
called "cyclones."
Tropical Storm - An organized system of strong
thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained
winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots); and Hurricane - An intense
tropical weather system with a well defined circulation and maximum
sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher. In the western
Pacific, hurricanes are called "typhoons." Similar storms in the
Indian Ocean are called "cyclones."
Tropical Depression - An organized system
of clouds and thunderstorms with defined circulation and maximum
sustained winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less;
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
|
CATEGORY
|
SUSTAINED
WINDS (mph)
|
DAMAGE
DEGREE
|
|
1
|
74-95
|
Minimal
|
|
2
|
96-110
|
Moderate
|
|
3
|
111-130
|
Extensive
|
|
4
|
131-155
|
Extreme
|
|
5
|
>155
|
Catastophic
|
What causes most of the hurricane-related
damage?
Storm surge, rain, and wind cause most of the damage
associated with hurricanes. · Storm surge floods and erodes coastal
areas, salinizes land and groundwater, contaminates the water
supply, causes agricultural losses, results in loss of life, and
damages structures and infrastructure. · Rain damages structures,
infrastructure, and agriculture and results in loss of life. Hawaii's
topography focuses the rains on mountain slopes, causing flash
flood and landslides.
· Strong winds can result in loss of life, create tremendous amounts
of debris (which impact utilities and transportation), cause agricultural
losses, and destroy lightly constructed buildings (e.g.,