The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a more intense hurricane season in 2024. This means that there will likely be more hurricanes, they will likely be more intense, and areas of the country that usually don’t get hurricanes are likely to experience them. 

With this in mind, understanding the five categories of hurricanes may help you avoid suffering a catastrophic injury.

Category 1 (74–95 MPH Winds)

Hurricanes are broken into categories using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This scale separates hurricanes based on the speed of sustained winds near the center of the storm. Storms with slower wind speeds than the lowest category are classified as tropical storms.

At even the lowest category, hurricanes can cause significant damage to buildings and trees. Shingles may fly off of buildings, and tree limbs may fall on power lines, causing power outages. These winds are also powerful enough to severely injure children if they go out in the storm.

Category 2 (96–110 MPH Winds)

In this category, the wind speeds are high enough to shatter windows, rip trees out of the ground, and even partially lift mobile homes. You should never drive during a Category 2 hurricane because you are very likely to get into a serious car accident.

Category 3 (111–129 MPH Winds)

In this category, you should seriously consider fleeing your home, especially if you live in a mobile home. Mobile homes and cars may be destroyed by these winds, and power outages are expected to be extensive. The damage is usually enough that power outages are likely to last weeks or even longer.

Category 4 (130–156 MPH Winds)

State governments are likely to order mandatory evacuations once winds get this strong. These winds are strong enough to rip roofs off of all but the most sturdy homes and could wipe out some homes completely. These storms likely come with flooding and weeks of power outages. 

Category 4 hurricanes may even damage sturdy structures like brick buildings. Trying to ride out the storm in a storm shelter could be dangerous.

Category 5 (157 MPH Winds and Higher)

Even industrial buildings are in danger in this category of hurricanes. This means that all utilities might be out for months due to damage not only to the infrastructure but to the main building as well. Almost every building, no matter how sturdy, is likely to be damaged, and many will be destroyed. 

Anyone who tries to ride out a category 5 hurricane is putting themselves at serious risk and will likely require rescue, even if they survive the storm.

Pay Attention To the Categories of Hurricanes

There are a few dozen hurricanes every year. Anyone who has ever lived in a hurricane-prone area has probably sheltered from a storm in their home or a hurricane shelter. For some hurricanes, this is a reasonable response. 

For example, if you live in a sturdy brick home, you might be able to safely endure a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane by stocking up on water and staying away from windows. However, always adhere to guidance from local authorities.

Understanding the categories and what they mean can help you make smart decisions for your family’s safety.

Contact the Louisiana Personal Injury Law Firm Of Kenny Habetz Injury Law for Help Today

If you’ve been injured in Louisiana, please call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case evaluation with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer or contact us online. We have offices in Lafayette and Crowley, LA.

Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Lafayette
110 E Kaliste Saloom Rd Ste 101 Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 399-9000

Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Crowley
604 S Parkerson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526
(337) 329-8883