General Knowledge
Survive a Hurricane Quiz
Cat 5 winds, storm surge, and what actually saves lives in a hurricane
Cat 5 winds, storm surge, and what actually saves lives in a hurricane
Storm surge — not wind — kills more Americans in hurricanes than every other hurricane hazard combined. With 50 questions covering the Saffir-Simpson scale, evacuation zones, generator safety, and the science of tropical cyclones, this quiz tests whether you know the difference between surviving and statistics.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll learn wind-speed thresholds for each hurricane category, why storm surge is the deadliest hazard, how and when to evacuate, safe generator placement, post-storm disease risks, and the science behind how hurricanes form and intensify over warm ocean water.
Storm surge is responsible for approximately 50% of US hurricane deaths. It is a wall of ocean water pushed ashore by the storm's winds and low pressure, which can rise 20+ feet above normal tide levels in major storms.
A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale has sustained winds of 157 mph or higher. Catastrophic damage is expected — most framed homes are destroyed, and the affected area may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
You should evacuate whenever local authorities issue a mandatory evacuation order, especially if you are in an evacuation zone A or B (the lowest-lying areas most at risk of storm surge). Leaving early — 48-72 hours before landfall — avoids the fuel shortages and traffic jams that can trap evacuees on the road.
Last updated: April 2026