I'm not from the US but we still use the Saffir-Simpson scale, 1 minute max sustained winds however on the same ocean so while we have our own hurricane agency we use the same scale and keep things uniform with them for the most part.

Yep, all the national agencies in the N Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea, Central and Eastern Pacific use the forecasts made by the US, so no surprises there.

Do you know what that translates roughly to damage to buildings and landscape here? I know I wasn't able to say how the homes were built but even a rough generalization is better than nothing to get an idea to be prepared.

I don't expect much damage due to winds unless the house is made up of nipa or thin plywood. Damage from flood and intense rainfall might be more of your concern that from winds. Here's PAGASA's damage severity from Signal # 3 winds:

• Heavy damage to high–risk structures.

• Moderate damage to medium-risk structures.

• Light damage to low risk structures.

• Increasing damage (up to more than 50%) to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials. Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed.

• Houses of medium strength materials (old, timber or mixed timber-CHB structures, usually with G.I. roofing’s); some warehouses or bodega-type structures are unroofed.

• There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services.

• Almost all banana plants are downed.

• Some big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) are broken or uprooted.

• Dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed.

• Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses.

• Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off; some large trees blown down.