Hurricane winds: What to expect

Hurricane Dolly's 75 mph winds could wreak havoc on mobile and prefabricated homes, but pose little danger to standard buildings.

Flying debris, though, could change that equation. At 55 mph, falling trees and flying branches can cause significant damage. Still, typical Texas homes should resist winds of up to 130 mph, said Wendy Rose, media relations manager for the Institute for Business and Home Safety.

Anyone living in a mobile home should evacuate. No hurricane safety standards apply to homes built before June 1976, according to the Institute. Owners of newer prefabricated homes should use the Institute's safety checklist. Chief among its recommendations: make sure your house and its foundation are securely linked.


Beaufort Scale:

0 mph: Smoke rises straight up
1-4 mph: Smoke drifts with wind
4-7 mph: Leaves rustle
8-12 mph: Leaves and twigs move constantly
13-18 mph: small branches move
19-24 mph: small trees sway
25-31 mph: Large branches move, umbrellas useless
32-38 mph: Trees sway
39-46 mph: Trees lose small branches
47-54 mph: Slight structural damage
55-63 mph: Trees uprooted, considerable structural damage
64-72 mph: Widespread damage
74 mph: Devastation

Source: Compiled from the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center and Disastercenter.com