The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale divides hurricanes into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds. SSHS for the rest of us, as described below
Category 1 - Causes damage to un-anchored mobile homes. Leaves alone your home.
Category 2 - They can lift your home, and damage windows, doors. Near-total power outages. Scattered loss of potable water.
Category 3 - They can cause severe structural damage to wood frame buildings.
Category 4 - Mobile and manufactured homes are leveled. These storms cause extensive beach erosion, while terrain may be flooded far inland. Total and long-lived electrical and water losses are to be expected, possibly for many weeks
Category 5 - Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) inland
Officially, the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale is used only to describe hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line.
