The Fujita Tornado Scale, more commonly called the “F Scale”, has become the recognized scale for estimating wind speeds within tornadoes based upon the damage done to buildings and structures.

Here’s a list of the various classifications:

Category FO — Gale Tornado Category 40 – 72 mph
Light damage: some damage to chimneys, breaks branches off trees, pushes over shallow-rooted trees, and damages sign boards.

Category F1 — Moderate Tornado Category 73 – 112 mph
Moderate damage: The lower limit Category 73 mph– is the beginning of hurricane wind speed, peels surfaces of roofs, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, and moving autos pushed off roads.

Category F2 — Significant Tornado Category 112 – 157 mph
Considerable damage: Roofs torn off the frames of houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars pushed over, large trees snapped or uprooted, and heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown

Category F3 — Severe Tornado Category 158 – 206 mph
Severe damage: Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses, trains overturned, most trees in forest uprooted, and heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown.

Category F4 — Devastating Tornado Category 207 – 260 mph
Devastating damage: Well-constructed houses leveled, structures blown off weak foundations, and cars and other large objects thrown about.

Category F5 — Incredible Tornado Category 261 – 318 mph
Incredible damage: Strong frame houses are lifted off foundations and carried a considerable distance and disintegrated, automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters, and trees debarked.

Source: datarecovery.com

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35.7 million – Estimated July 1, 2008, population most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes: the coastal portion of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Approximately 12 percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas.

10.2 million – The 1950 coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Seven percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas at that time.

251 percent – Percentage growth of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas between 1950 and 2008.

180,155 – Collective land area, in square miles, of the coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas.

3 – The number of the nation’s 20 most populous metro areas in 2008 that were within Atlantic or Gulf coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas. These areas are Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (sixth); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. (seventh); and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (20th).

8 — The number of hurricanes during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Five were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher.

Ana – The name of the first Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean storm of 2009. The second storm will be named Bill.

17.9 million – Estimated 2008 coastal population of Florida, accounting for half (50 percent) of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Among the Sunshine State’s coastal population, approximately 10.6 million lived along the Atlantic and 7.3 million along the Gulf.

1 percent – Percentage growth of Florida’s coastal population between 2007 and 2008.

Fay – The only storm on record to make landfall four times in the state of Florida, and to prompt tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for the state’s entire coastline (at various times during its August 2008 lifespan).

1950 – The year the Weather Bureau officially began naming hurricanes.

2005 – In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, 28 named storms form, 15 of them hurricanes, seven of which are major, and four reach Category 5 status. For the first time, the alternate Greek alphabet scheme for naming storms has to be employed.

455,056 – Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2005 — about two months before Hurricane Katrina struck.

311,853 – Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2008 — three years after Hurricane Katrina struck.

29,431 – The population of Homestead, Fla., near the point of landfall of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In 2007, the population of Homestead was 56,601.

37,789 – Population of Galveston, Texas, at the time of the city’s “Great Storm” on Sept. 8, 1900, which killed more than 8,000 people.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Many residents across the country have experienced devastating losses caused by flooding. Some suffered the total loss of their homes to floodwaters. Others are trying to make their homes livable again. Time and time again, far too many individuals shoulder these burdens without the financial cushion of flood insurance. In some instances, people have been told they cannot buy flood insurance because of where they live, or because they’ve flooded before. To address these and other misconceptions about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA has compiled the following key facts that everyone should know about flood insurance:

1. Flood insurance is available. You can — and should — buy flood insurance. As long as you live in a participating NFIP community, and there are more than 20,500 nationwide, you can purchase flood insurance from your insurance agent. And you can purchase a policy if you have, or have not,
flooded before. Renters, condominium owners, homeowners and business owners are all eligible to purchase a policy.

2. Flood insurance is sometimes required — but should always be considered. Flooding can happen anywhere, anytime, due to factors such as heavy rains, melting snow, failed protective devices such as levees and dams, as well as tropical storms and hurricanes. Most individuals that have a home in a high-risk area are required by law to carry flood insurance. But, just because flood insurance is not required does not mean it is not needed. Even if your lender doesn’t require you to carry it, you should ask your agent about flood insurance options to better protect your biggest investment. Without a flood insurance policy, your financial security is at risk.

3. Flood insurance is the most dependable resource for a speedy recovery. Most homeowners insurance does not cover losses due to flooding. Only flood insurance covers damage from rising waters. Remember that all floods are not major floods and, despite what many might think, Federal disaster assistance is not always available after a flood. When such assistance is available, it usually comes in the form of a low-interest loan, which must be paid back with interest.

4. Flood insurance is affordable. Rates are based on a variety of factors such as flood zone, date of construction, history of flood claims, elevation of the lowest floor of the building, etc. The average flood insurance premium is around $500 per year. If you live in a low-to-moderate risk area, lower-cost Preferred Risk Policies start as low as $119 a year. Flood insurance rates are federally set and will not differ from one insurance company to another.

5. Flood insurance is available for your building and its contents. Standard flood insurance policies require that you purchase additional coverage for your contents. However, if you live in a lower-risk area, you may be eligible for a Preferred Risk Policy that covers both your structure and personal items for a lower cost than a standard flood policy. View a complete summary of building and contents items covered by flood insurance.

6. Know your coverage limits — and be fully insured. A maximum of $250,000 of building coverage is available for single-family residential buildings; $250,000 per unit is also available for residential condominiums. The limit for contents coverage on all residential buildings is $100,000, which is also available to renters. Commercial structures can be insured to a limit of $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents. Review your coverage limits to make sure you are adequately insured for your building, its contents and any improvements made to your home.

7. The 100-year flood standard — what it really means. The government’s definition of a floodplain, or high flood risk zone, is an area which has at least a one-in-100 or one percent chance of flooding in any given year. These one percent chance flood events are often called “100 year floods”, but that term can be misleading. The 100-year flood benchmark is a minimum standard used for insurance purposes. While major flood events are not common, they happen, have happened recently and will happen again.

8. Levee protection comes with risks. Levees, dams and other flood control structures are designed to protect against a certain level of flooding. In more serious flood events, levees can fail or overtop. And, as levees age, their level of protection can change. When levees overtop or fail, the flooding that follows can be catastrophic. Because of these unique risks, if you live near a levee, dam, or in areas reliant on other flood control structures, purchasing flood insurance is highly recommended.

9. Filing your claim — what to expect. After a flood event, call your agent or insurance company and ask when to expect an adjuster at your home. Be sure to call your insurance company back if you haven’t been assigned an adjuster within several days of flooding. Before the adjuster arrives, separate damaged and undamaged items, take photos, make a list of damaged or lost items and make a copy of the damage estimates prepared by a contractor to give to the adjuster. Once a detailed proof of loss statement has been prepared and agreed upon, your claim can be submitted.

10. Stay insured. You can purchase flood insurance at any time. However, there is usually a 30-day waiting period before the policy becomes effective. If you already have a flood policy, remember: your policy needs to be renewed each year.

For more information or for help in finding an agent near you, please visit the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website.

Source: National Flood Insurance Program

From Weather Underground, here’s a list of the most expensive hurricanes in American history:

To see more about these, and to check out the rest of the list of most expensive hurricanes ever, visit Weather Underground.

Seven interesting facts about the disaster:

1. How many people died? No one is certain. Some say up to 12,000, and others claim 10,000. But a detailed official study by the government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates 8,000 people perished on the island that day (although they qualify that with a footnote saying the death toll could be as high as 12,000). There were 37,000 residents of the city then.

2. The storm (hurricanes were not given names then) struck at night and the booming seaport city’s residents were dismissive of earlier weather reports that a strong storm had passed over Cuba. U.S. Weather Bureau forecasters said it would head northeast.

3. Researchers believe that the Galveston storm was a category 4 with with speeds of up to 140 mph and a storm surge of more than 15 feet.

4. More than 3,600 buildings were destroyed, including an orphanage where 10 nuns and 90 children died.

5. The estimated cost of damage from the storm was $20 million at that time. Today, it would add up to $700 million.

6. Galveston was a wealthy city in 1900, the only deep-water port in Texas when the cotton trade was booming. The main street was known as “Wall Street of the Southwest” and there were many mansions. The hurricane wiped out 12 blocks – about three-quarters of the city.

7. Isaac’s Storm, the recent best-selling book by Erik Larson, has post-storm video and photos on its Web site. Isaac Cline was Galveston’s meteorologist who, realizing his failure to recognize the storm’s fury, drove his buggy up and down the beach yelling to residents to flee. YouTube has a video clip made by Thomas Edison of the wreckage after the storm.

Information from NOAA, the Galveston County Daily News, Random House, CNN special report and USA Today.

The list includes:

– Developing a Family Plan

– Creating a Disaster Supply Kit

– Having a Place To Go

– Securing Your Home

– Having a Pet Plan

For more information, visit nhc.noaa.com.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

Keep an eye on this heavily trafficked Web site: Houston Hide From the Wind. It shows potential Ike wind damage in each ZIP code of the city.

If you do not have time to reinforce any of those areas with prebuilt plywood and anchoring, there are some things you can do in the face of high winds. Information below and more available from the Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Bluesky Foundation. Here are 10 tips for what to do in the face of strong winds:

1. Find out where the nearest Red Cross shelter is and be prepared to go there before the storm hits.

2. Have enough cash if you leave the area for several weeks. Have a predetermined destination in mind. Select a common meeting place or single point of contact for all family members. Charge cell phones fully.

3. Move anything near your house that could be tossed by high winds — tree branches, lawn furniture, barbecues, birdbaths, potted plants, bicycles, toys, trash cans, hanging plants – and put them in your garage or basement, or far away from your house. Tie down other loose items that could become projectiles. If limbs are broken or damaged, remove and move them, or remove branches so wind can blow through the tree. Taping windows provides no protection from breaking glass.

4. Identify a shelter room in your home: on the first floor, central part of the house, no windows. Stay away from windows and doors. Bathrooms have the bonus of a water supply, toilet and tub.

5. Collect jewelry, valuables and essential personal documents, inventory them and put them in as safe a place as possible — a waterproof container stored in an interior closet. If there is time, take photographs. Important documents include legal papers, financial documents, personal items such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, and especially insurance information.

6. Fill your car with gas. Back your car up against the inside of your garage door to keep the door from twisting due to high winds.

7. Move furniture and household fixtures away from exterior doors and window. Cover them with plastic if you can. Unplug appliances, computers and put whatever of those you can into cabinets or interior closets.

8. Have one gallon of water (minimum) per day, per person, for at least a week. Two quarts are for drinking and 2 are for food preparation or sanitation. Fill empty containers and a bathtub with water as an additional emergency supply. Have rain gear and sturdy shoes/boots. Have a one-week supply of non-perishable food (a non-electric can opener, cooking tools, a camping stove, paper plates, plastic utensils. Don’t forget pillows and blankets and a few changes of clothes. Don’t forget dog or cat food.

9. First aid kit should have all necessary prescription medications to last at least a week, also painkillers (aspirin, Tylonel, Advil), bandages, gauze pads, antiseptic, latex gloves, first aid cream, scissors, tweezers and a thermometer. Also, bleach and antibacterial soap, toilet paper/personal hygiene items, plastics bags, matches. Grab a tarp if you have one.

10. Get a battery operated radio or a crank radio, and plenty of flashlights or camping lights (plus extra batteries). Find where the NOAA Weather Radio station is on the radio. Grab a wrench to turn off gas and water. Do not use candles. If you have a gas-powered back-up generator, test it. Use it minimally, as power can be off for weeks.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

*More than 500 of 600-900 estimated deaths lost on ships at sea. The Texas estimate of deaths was 284.

Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, National Hurricane Center, Texas Weather by George Bomar

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• America’s Deadliest Hurricane
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

According to the center’s database, 96 major hurricanes in the Atlantic have struck the U.S. coast since 1851. The states with the highest number of hurricane strikes are:

1. Florida, with 113 hurricanes, 37 of them major storms and two that reached Category 5 status (the strongest and most destructive of hurricanes).

2. Texas, with 60 total hurricanes, 19 of them major. The majority (23) were Category 1 storms, and none were Category 5.

3. Louisiana, with 52 total hurricanes, 20 of them major. One of those storms was a Category 5, and four were Category 4 storms.

4. North Carolina, with 50 total hurricanes, 12 of them major storms. No Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in North Carolina, but there has been one Category 4 storm.

5. South Carolina with 30 hurricanes, six of them major. Two Category 4 hurricanes have made landfall on the South Carolina coast.

The remaining top-ranked states for hurricane strikes are, in descending order, Alabama with 26, Georgia with 23, Mississippi with 16, New York with 12, Connecticut and Massachusetts with 11, Virginia with 10 and Rhode Island with nine.

For detailed statistics and information about hurricanes and the United States, go to the National Hurricane Center Web site.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

Which are the deadliest hurricanes of all time?

Weather Underground compiled a list of 30. Here are the Top 10, with year, states most affected, and number of deaths reported:

1. Great Galveston (TX) Hurricane (1900): 6,000-8,000

2. Lake Okeechobee (FL) Hurricane (1928): 2,800

3. Katrina (LA, MS, FL, GA, AL) (2005): 1,833

4. Cheniere Caminanda (LA) (1893): 1,100-1,400

5. Sea Islands (SC, GA) (1983): 1,000-2,000

6. GA/SC (1881): 700

7. Great Labor Day Hurricane (FL Keys) (1935): 408

7. Last Island (LA) (1856): 400

9. Audrey (SW LA/N TX) (1957): 390

10. LA (Grand Isle) (1909): 350

To find out more about these, and to see the rest of the list, visit Weather Underground.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Hurricane Preparedness Tips