Are Typhoons and Hurricanes the same?

@Fulltank (2882)
Philippines
October 5, 2009 9:30pm CST
Here in the Philippines, we call it Typhoon. Whereas in the US and other western countries called it Hurricane. Do this two natural calamities are the same or different? Hurricane Katrina is a category 5 (hope i'm right) while the recent Typhoon Ondoy here in the Phils. (international name "Ketsana") is only signal 1, but the rain it brings is devastating.
1 response
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
6 Oct 09
I believe they are the same. In the U.S. the categories assigned to hurricanes are based on wind speeds. I live in Florida and have been through a few hurricanes since moving here. Some are fast moving while others are slower and bring a lot of rain but it's the wind that does the most damage.