Category 5 hurricanes cause catastrophic damage, stripping landscapes, flattening forests, and destroying infrastructure. For example, Hurricane Irma rendered Barbuda uninhabitable in 2017, while Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas in 2019. These storms can generate storm surges over 23 feet (7 meters), leading to severe flooding and loss of life. The economic toll is immense, as seen with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which caused over $125 billion in damages and exposed vulnerabilities in emergency response systems. As climate change warms ocean waters, the likelihood of more frequent and intense Category 5 hurricanes increases, amplifying risks to coastal cities and global economies.