Hurricane Severity Scale is Updated

05/15/2010

An updated version of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale could give consumers a more accurate idea of their home insurance needs, according to a recent report by the Associated Press.

It no longer includes information about flooding or storm surges, which was consistently proven to be incorrect. Rather, the new version will focus on damage incurred by high winds. Category 1 hurricane winds will be enough to knock over stone chimneys, while Category 3 ones can destroy fences, mobile homes and unprotected windows.

Category 5 winds - those greater than 155 mph - will topple trees and power poles, blow out windows and cause widespread suffering. The updated scale includes more specific references on how such winds would affect structures like homes, shopping centers and industrial buildings than its previous version.

"In coastal areas of Florida, there are a lot more high-rises where the windows are susceptible to damage," Chris Landsea, a science operations officer at the National Hurricane Center, told the AP. "That broken glass wasn't covered at all in the old one."

Traditional homeowners insurance policies cover losses incurred during a hurricane, with the exception of flood damage. Flood insurance may be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program.

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