What Do Hurricane Categories Actually Mean?

As climate change worsens, so does hurricane season. But what do meteorologists and news anchors mean when they talk about hurricane categories, like Category 1, Category 3 or Category 5?

Most people simply want to know how much water and wind to expect, and what a hurricane will mean for their safety. Hurricane categories can't predict everything about a storm, but categories do give an indication of how a hurricane will affect people and property in its path.