All hurricanes are dangerous, but some are more powerful than others. The way storm surge, wind and other factors combine determines the hurricanes destructive power.

To make comparisons easier and to make the predicted hazards of approaching hurricanes clearer to emergency managers, Hurricane forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a disaster-potential scale which assigns storms to five categories. This can be used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast with a hurricane.

The scale was formulated in 1969 by Herbert Saffir, a consulting engineer, and Dr. Bob Simpson, director of the National Hurricane Center. The World Meteorological Organization was preparing a report on structural damage to dwellings due to windstorms, and Dr. Simpson added information about storm surge heights that accompany hurricanes in each category.

Category 1
Winds: 74-95 mph
Minimal damage: No real damage to structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, vegetation and poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage.
Storm surge: 4-5 feet

Category 2
Winds: 96-110 mph
Moderate damage: Some roofing material, door and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood two to fours hours before arrival of center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings.
Storm surge: 6-8 feet

Category 3
Winds: 111-130 mph
Extensive damage: Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain-wall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Low-lying roads may be cut off by flooding.
Storm surge: 9-12 feet

Category 4
Winds: 131-155 mph
Extreme damage: More extensive curtain-wall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach and major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Shrubs, trees and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water three to five hours before arrival of the hurricane center.
Storm surge: 13-18 feet

Category 5
Winds: Greater than 155 mph
Catastrophic damage: Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage.
Storm surge: Greater than 18 feet

View FoxNews.com's interactive Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale