Hurricanes are rated by the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Compare a Category 1 with flooding rains and deadly storm surge to a Category 2 hurricane with little rain and little storm surge. The Category 1 in this scenario will likely do more damage because of multiple threats.
The controversy is hurricanes should not just be rated by wind intensity but also by storm surge, rain amounts, tornadic activity, and expected damage costs. This will result in a better understanding and give people more knowledge to prepare for the threat.
People are starting to take action and want a change to the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. As it may be accurate for wind it does not account for the many other hazards tropical systems bring. In the perfect reality they would rate all tropical systems on a scale that puts storm surge, wind, rain amounts, tornadic activity, and expected damage costs into one scale.
Berkshire Weather 