Hurricane Category Ranges

Category 1
Winds range from 75 to 95 mph. This type of hurricane causes minor flooding and damage. Category 1 hurricanes are similar to a normal storm system. Example: Hurricane Irene, 1999.

Category 2
Winds range from 96 to 110 mph. This type of hurricane dislodges small trees and tugs small boats loose from their moorings. It might blow larger limbs down onto homes. Example: Hurricane Bonnie, 1998.

Category 3
Winds range from 111 to 130 mph. Most people are evacuated when this type of hurricane strikes. Strong winds can destroy mobile homes and take down large trees. Flooding can be substantial. Example: Hurricane Fran, 1996.

Category 4
Winds range from 131 to 155 mph. Winds can rip roofs from houses and take down trees of very large size. Flooding can be severe and all types of buildings are susceptible to damage. Example: Hurricane Charley, 2004.

Category 5
Winds of 156 mph and over. Winds can completely level buildings, throw cars and mobile homes, and cause massive amounts of flooding. This type of hurricane almost always demands full-scale evacuation. Luckily, this strength of hurricane very rarely hits land. Example: Hurricane Camille, 1969.

Fast Facts about House Fires

• 26% of fires originate in the kitchen; 23% originate in the garage
• 75% of house fires occur on the ground floor
• Between 60% and 65% of fire fatalities occur in homes without a working smoke alarm
• Adults between 65 and 75 have a fire death rate that is twice that of the national average
• Most fire and fire deaths occur between the months of December and March

In Celebration of Grandparents' Day (Sunday, September 12, 2004)

• According to the General Social Survey of 2001, there were 5.7 million grandparents in Canada.
• Only 2% of women and 1% of men aged 45 and under were grandparents.
• In the age group 55 to 64, nearly two-thirds of women and just over one-half of men were grandparents.
• In the age group of 65+, 80% of senior women were grandmothers and 74% of senior men were grandfathers.
• More than one-half (53%) of all grandparents were retired, while 30% reported they were still in the labour force.
• In 2001, over two-thirds (68%) of all grandparents were married, while 18% were widowed. An additional 10% were divorced or separated or had never been married, while 4% were living common-law.

Source: Statistics Canada