Hurricanes: VERIFY Fact Sheet

Florida is bracing for the arrival of Idalia, which is predicted to become a Category 3 hurricane when it reaches the state’s Gulf Coast later this week. 

Idalia would be the first hurricane to hit Florida this season as the state continues to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian in 2022. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has already declared a state of emergency in 46 counties and President Joe Biden told DeSantis he approved an emergency declaration for the state. 

VERIFY answered top questions about hurricanes, including what the five categories mean and whether insurance policies cover flood damage from the storms. 

THE SOURCES

WHAT WE FOUND

QUESTION #1: How long does hurricane season last?

THE ANSWER 

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 every year. The Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). 

Most Atlantic hurricane activity occurs between mid-August and late October due to warm ocean waters that support the storms’ development, the Florida Climate Center explains. 

QUESTION #2: What’s the difference between tropical storms, typhoons and hurricanes?

THE ANSWER

Tropical storms, typhoons and hurricanes all fall under the designation of tropical cyclones.

All tropical cyclones use warm, moist air as fuel. That’s why the storms only form in tropical regions where the ocean temperature is at least 80 degrees, NOAA explains.

The storms also need wind to form. As the wind passes over the ocean’s surface, water evaporates and rises. The water vapor cools as it rises and condenses back into large water droplets, forming clouds.  

The first difference is wind speed. Tropical cyclones become tropical storms if their sustained winds reach 39 mph or higher. If wind speeds reach 74 mph or higher, the storm is then classified as a hurricane. 

Hurricanes and typhoons are the same type of weather phenomena – the only difference between the two is their location, according to NOAA. 

Hurricane is used for storms that originate in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific and eastern North Pacific, while the word typhoon is used for storms that form in the Northwest Pacific, NOAA says. 

Storms that form in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans are always referred to as tropical cyclones, regardless of their wind speeds.

QUESTION #3: What do the five hurricane categories mean?

THE ANSWER

The five-category Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale estimates the severity of the storm and its impacts. “Major hurricanes” fall under Categories 3, 4 and 5 on the scale. 

The scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s peak wind speeds. It does not take into account other hazards such as storm surge, flooding and tornadoes, the NHC says. 

Once a storm reaches 74 mph winds or greater, it is assigned a hurricane category. 

Here is the NHC’s breakdown of the five hurricane categories and what they mean:

Category 6 hurricanes do not exist, despite some viral claims. 

QUESTION #4: Do homeowners and renters insurance policies cover flood damage from hurricanes?

THE ANSWER

Homeowners and renters insurance policies do not typically cover flood damage from hurricanes. 

Instead, people can purchase separate flood insurance policies from private companies or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These policies can cover buildings, such as your home, the contents within, or both.

Flood insurance through the NFIP is available to anyone living in one of the 23,000 participating communities throughout the United States.

To find a flood insurance provider through the NFIP, you can use the federal government’s online tool or call 877-336-2627.

There can be a 30-day waiting period before a flood insurance policy goes into effect, with some exceptions, so it’s best not to wait to buy coverage until severe weather is expected to hit your area.

QUESTION #5: How can you prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm?

THE ANSWER

That kit should include the following items:

The Red Cross offers tips to prepare your home for an impending storm. They include bringing in outdoor items such as lawn furniture and trash cans, anchoring objects that would be unsafe to bring inside such as gas grills and propane tanks, trimming or removing trees close enough to fall on your home, and protecting windows with permanent storm shutters or sheeting. 

To protect your home from flooding, the Red Cross recommends cleaning out drains, gutters and downspouts, stockpiling materials such as plastic sheeting and sandbags, and installing a sump pump with a battery backup. 

If you have a generator, do not use it indoors due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. You shouldn’t use a generator in the rain, either, unless you have a canopy or another suitable cover.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.