Hurricane Damage Effects
After the winds have calmed and weather returns to normal following a hurricane, it’s easy to forget the impact a storm may have had on the ability to quickly restore communities.
The following table illustrates the increasing storm intensities, likely damage caused and the effect on disruption to electric power. Keep in mind, for each increasing level of intensity, FPL’s infrastructure that provides service to your business and home can be severely impacted. The greater the intensity, the greater the likelihood that FPL must completely rebuild destroyed FPL equipment that was exposed to powerful hurricane force winds and flooding.
You can be assured FPL will do everything possible to restore power, however, we ask that you do your part to prepare your business with disaster recovery plans and/or backup generation for no less than two weeks.
Hurricane Intensity |
Wind Speed
(mph)
|
Potential Damage |
Customers affected by power outages |
Category 1 |
74-95 |
Strong enough to cause damage to shrubbery, trees, and mobile homes. |
1.4 million Hurricane Katrina (2005) |
Category 2
|
96-110
|
Can blow down trees and cause damage to some roofing materials of buildings, windows and doors. Evacuation routes could be affected due to rising water. Strong enough to cause major damage to piers. Marinas may flood and small crafts anchored in protected areas may be lost. |
2.8 million
Hurricane Frances
(2004) |
Category 3
|
111-130 |
Can rip foliage from trees and blow down large trees. Damage to roofing materials of buildings, windows and doors, and some structural damage to small buildings. Strong enough to destroy mobile homes. Coastal and low-lying inland flooding. |
1.7 million
Hurricane Jeanne
(2004)
3.2 million Hurricane Wilma (2005) |
Category 4
|
131-155
|
Shrubs, and trees and signs blown down. Extensive damage to roofing materials, windows and doors. Total destruction of roofs on small residences and mobile homes. Flooding and floating debris. |
874,000
Hurricane Charley
(2004)
|
Category 5 |
> 155 |
The most deadly and destructive category. Complete roof failures and destruction of residences and industrial buildings. Shattering of glass in windows and doors. Storm surges and widespread flooding. |
1.4 million
Hurricane Andrew
(1999) |
|
