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{{Short description|American scientist (1917–2007)}}
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[[File:Kelly Safer award.jpg|thumb|400px|[[National Weather Service]] Director Jack Kelly presents Herbert Saffir (on right) with a framed poster of [[Hurricane Andrew]] depicting the Saffir-Simpson scale]]
{{Infobox scientist
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'''Herbert Seymour Saffir''' (29 March 1917 &ndash; 21 November 2007) was the developer of the [[Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale]], for measuring the intensity of hurricanes. As recently as 2005, Saffir was the principal of Saffir Engineering<ref>[http://www.enr.construction.com/opinions/lettersUpdates/archives/051121.asp Looking at the Damage – McGraw-Hill Construction | ENR]</ref> in [[Coral Gables, Florida]]. He has published articles on designing buildings for high wind resistance.<ref>[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=author%3Ah-saffir&btnG=Search Google Scholar search for H Saffir]</ref>
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|name = Herbert Saffir
|image = Kelly Safer award.jpg
|image_size =
|alt =
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|caption = [[National Weather Service|NWS]] Director Jack Kelly presents Herbert Saffir (on right) with a framed poster of [[Hurricane Andrew]] depicting the [[Saffir–Simpson scale]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1917|03|29}}
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], New York City, United States
|death_date = {{death date and age|2007|11|21|1917|03|26}}
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|death_place = [[Miami]], [[Florida]]
|death_cause =
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|resting_place_coordinates = <!--{{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}-->
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|fields = [[Civil engineering]]
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|education = [[Georgia Institute of Technology]]
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|known_for = [[Saffir–Simpson scale]]
|influences =
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'''Herbert Seymour Saffir''' (29 March 1917 &ndash; 21 November 2007) ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Saffir.ogg|ˈ|s|æ|f|ər|}}<ref name=Collins-SaffirSimpson-Def>{{cite web|title=Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/american/saffir-simpson-hurricane-scale|website=American English Dictionary|publisher=Collins|accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref>) was an American civil engineer who co-developed (with meteorologist [[Robert Simpson (meteorologist)|Robert Simpson]]) the [[Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale]] for measuring the intensity of hurricanes. As recently as 2005 Saffir was the principal of Saffir Engineering<ref>[http://www.enr.construction.com/opinions/lettersUpdates/archives/051121.asp Looking at the Damage – McGraw-Hill Construction | ENR]</ref> in [[Coral Gables, Florida]]. He also published articles on designing buildings for high wind resistance.<ref>[https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=author%3Ah-saffir&btnG=Search Google Scholar search for H Saffir]</ref>


==Education and early career==
==Education and early career==
Originally from [[Brooklyn, New York]], Saffir graduated from the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] in 1940 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.<ref>[http://www.alumni.gatech.edu/news/ttopics/win95/hallfame.html Engineering Hall of Fame]</ref> Saffir worked for [[Dade County, Florida]] beginning in 1947 as an assistant county engineer, and worked on updating the county [[building code]]. Since that time, he had traveled extensively to study windstorm damage for clues to improvements and has been a tireless advocate for stricter codes in hurricane-prone areas.
Originally from [[Brooklyn]], Saffir graduated from the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] in 1940 with a B.S. in [[civil engineering]].<ref>[http://www.alumni.gatech.edu/news/ttopics/win95/hallfame.html Engineering Hall of Fame]</ref> Saffir worked for [[Dade County, Florida]] beginning in 1947 as an assistant county engineer, and worked on updating the county [[building code]]. Since that time, he had traveled extensively to study windstorm damage for clues to improvements and has been a tireless advocate for stricter codes in hurricane-prone areas.


==Later career==
==Later career==
In 1965, while working on a study of windstorm damage on low-cost housing commissioned by the [[United Nations]], Saffir developed a scale to categorize the intensity of hurricanes by their maximum wind speed. In 1969, his friend [[Bob Simpson (meteorologist)|Robert Simpson]], then-director of the [[National Hurricane Center]], added information on the potential storm surge and range of central pressures for each category, resulting in what later became known as the [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale]].<ref>http://www.novalynx.com/saffir-interview.html Q&A with Herbert Saffir&nbsp;&mdash; June 2001 interview from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel</ref>
In 1965 Saffir was working on a study of windstorm damage on low-cost housing commissioned by the [[United Nations]] (UN), Saffir developed a scale to categorize the intensity of hurricanes by their maximum [[wind speed]]. In 1969, his friend Bob Simpson, then-director of the [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC), added information on the potential [[storm surge]] and range of central [[Atmospheric pressure|pressures]] for each category, resulting in what later became known as the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.<ref>http://www.novalynx.com/saffir-interview.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228001734/http://www.novalynx.com/saffir-interview.html |date=2010-02-28 }} Q&A with Herbert Saffir&nbsp;&mdash; June 2001 interview from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel</ref>


Saffir survived the burning of the cruise ship [[SS Morro Castle (1930)|SS ''Morro Castle'']] on 8 September 1934. The ship was en route from Havana to New York when it caught fire and burned, killing a total of 137 passengers and crew members.
Saffir survived the burning of the cruise ship {{SS|Morro Castle|1930|6}} on 8 September 1934. The ship was en route from Havana to New York when it caught fire and burned, killing a total of 137 passengers and crew members.


On 21 November 2007 Herbert Saffir died of a heart attack at South [[Miami]] Hospital, according to his son, Richard Saffir. He was 90 years old.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112301595.html Herbert Saffir, 90; Hurricane Scale Creator]</ref>
On 21 November 2007 Herbert Saffir died of a heart attack at South Miami Hospital in [[Miami]] according to his son, Richard Saffir. He was 90 years old.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112301595.html Herbert Saffir, 90; Hurricane Scale Creator]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hurricane engineering]]
* [[Structural engineering]]
* [[Wind engineering]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2962456.ece Obituary in ''The Times'', 29 November 2007]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2962456.ece Obituary in ''The Times'', 29 November 2007]


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

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| NAME = Saffir, Herbert
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American scientist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 29 March 1917
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Brooklyn, New York
| DATE OF DEATH = 21 November 2007
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| PLACE OF DEATH = Miami, Florida
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saffir, Herbert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saffir, Herbert}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Georgia Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction]]
[[Category:Scientists from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:American civil engineers]]
[[Category:Engineers from New York City]]
[[Category:20th-century American engineers]]

Latest revision as of 04:38, 29 December 2023

Herbert Saffir
NWS Director Jack Kelly presents Herbert Saffir (on right) with a framed poster of Hurricane Andrew depicting the Saffir–Simpson scale
Born(1917-03-29)March 29, 1917
Brooklyn, New York City, United States
DiedNovember 21, 2007(2007-11-21) (aged 90)
Miami, Florida
EducationGeorgia Institute of Technology
Known forSaffir–Simpson scale
Scientific career
FieldsCivil engineering

Herbert Seymour Saffir (29 March 1917 – 21 November 2007) (/ˈsæfər/ ⓘ[1]) was an American civil engineer who co-developed (with meteorologist Robert Simpson) the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale for measuring the intensity of hurricanes. As recently as 2005 Saffir was the principal of Saffir Engineering[2] in Coral Gables, Florida. He also published articles on designing buildings for high wind resistance.[3]

Education and early career[edit]

Originally from Brooklyn, Saffir graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1940 with a B.S. in civil engineering.[4] Saffir worked for Dade County, Florida beginning in 1947 as an assistant county engineer, and worked on updating the county building code. Since that time, he had traveled extensively to study windstorm damage for clues to improvements and has been a tireless advocate for stricter codes in hurricane-prone areas.

Later career[edit]

In 1965 Saffir was working on a study of windstorm damage on low-cost housing commissioned by the United Nations (UN), Saffir developed a scale to categorize the intensity of hurricanes by their maximum wind speed. In 1969, his friend Bob Simpson, then-director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), added information on the potential storm surge and range of central pressures for each category, resulting in what later became known as the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.[5]

Saffir survived the burning of the cruise ship SS Morro Castle on 8 September 1934. The ship was en route from Havana to New York when it caught fire and burned, killing a total of 137 passengers and crew members.

On 21 November 2007 Herbert Saffir died of a heart attack at South Miami Hospital in Miami according to his son, Richard Saffir. He was 90 years old.[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale". American English Dictionary. Collins. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. ^ Looking at the Damage – McGraw-Hill Construction | ENR
  3. ^ Google Scholar search for H Saffir
  4. ^ Engineering Hall of Fame
  5. ^ http://www.novalynx.com/saffir-interview.html Archived 2010-02-28 at the Wayback Machine Q&A with Herbert Saffir — June 2001 interview from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
  6. ^ Herbert Saffir, 90; Hurricane Scale Creator

External links[edit]

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