Fast Facts on Hurricanes

Sept. 21, 2005 -- -- Hurricane researchers have developed their own lingo for understanding these monster storms. The following information describes different types of storms, how they affect homes and communities, and how they are named.

The most extreme category of hurricane is Category 5, where winds exceed 156 mph. Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed large swaths of Miami and south Florida in 1992, was a Category 5 hurricane.