Classifications for hurricanes based on wind speeds

Here are the thresholds of the different categories of storms:

Tropical Storm — Wind speeds range from 39 mph to 74 mph. Storm surge is up to 6 feet. Areas along the beach are vulnerable.

Hurricanes:

Category 1 — Wind speeds range from 74 mph to 95 mph, with a 6-foot to 8-foot storm surge. Damage is typically minimal. Areas vulnerable to surge include coastal Naples along the beach, Marco Island, U.S. 41 East corridor and most areas south, Everglades City, Ochopee, Collier Seminole State Park, the Gordon River basin, Naples Municipal Airport, Golden Gate Parkway east to Bear’s Paw, Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, west of Vanderbilt Drive and areas along the Cocohatchee River. Hurricane Irene in 1999 was a Category 1 hurricane.

Category 2 — Wind speeds range from 96 mph to 110 mph, with a 8-foot to 12-foot storm surge. Damage is typically moderate. Vulnerable areas include all those mentioned for Category 1, plus the Cocohatchee River basin including Immokalee Road east to Airport-Pulling Road, the northeast and southwest corners of Naples Park, inland about 3/4 of a mile along western beaches, west of Third Street in Old Naples and much of the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club property, most of East Naples, Airport-Pulling Road south of Golden Gate Parkway, Radio Road halfway to Santa Barbara Boulevard, Davis Boulevard and County Barn Roads, all of Lely, all of Naples Manor, County Road 951 up to about three miles north of U.S. 41. Several miles north of U. S. 41 East in eastern Collier. Hurricane Alma in 1962 was a Category 2 storm.

Category 3 — Wind speeds range from 111 mph to 130 mph, with a 12-foot to 16-foot storm surge. Damage is typically extensive. Storm surge would reach those areas previously mentioned and would extend to Golden Gate. Surge expected to stop at Interstate 75. Southeast and northwest corners of Naples Park area affected. Hurricane Donna in 1960 was a Category 3 storm and extensively damaged the Naples Pier.

Category 4 — Wind speeds range from 131 mph to 155 mph, with a 17-foot to 22-foot storm surge. Damage is typically extreme. Surge expected to extend all the way to the Collier County fairgrounds and east of Interstate 75 and Golden Gate. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was a Category 4 storm.

Category 5 — Wind speeds top 155 mph, with storm surge more than 22 feet. Damage is typically catastrophic. Surge expected to affect all areas previously mentioned and pass the Collier County fairgrounds and east of Interstate 75 and Golden Gate. Storm surge would affect Pine Ridge Road, so-named for its high elevation. Labor Day storm of 1935 was a Category 5 storm and killed 400 railroad workers in the Florida Keys.