The taxonomist in me can't help but notice that photographs of Hurricane Sandy, now bearing down on the Atlantic coast, fall into distinct categories. So I've made a helpful guide to 10 common storm images, complete with identification tips.

1. The Satellite Overview

Diagnostic traits: white, swirly, often accompanied by a NOAA stamp. You wouldn't be able to take these with your cell phone. Unless you're an Astronaut. Which is unlikely.

Other examples: (1, 2)

2. The Rising Tide

Diagnostic traits: water in places it really shouldn't be. If you look out your window and see something like this, you should probably think about moving to higher ground.

Other examples: (1, 2, 3)

3. The Concerned Politician

Diagnostic traits: furrowed brows, telephones, bureaucrats. I'd give the above looks-of-concern 7 out of 10.

Other examples: (1, 2)

4. The Oddly Empty

Diagnostic traits: whatever the venue- subway stations, roads, grocery store shelves- it's got an unsettling amount of open space. If you're a storm photographer averse to doing anything dangerous, here's your genre.

Other examples: (1, 2)

5. The Intrepid Journalist

Diagnostic traits: expensive equipment, windswept clothing, general chaos. High potential for self-inflicted damage.

Other examples: (1, 2)

6. The SandBag

Diagnostic traits: Preparatory barriers and supplies, often with neighbors pitching in to help, or a child and/or family pet waiting for the storm. The pinnacle of this genre would be neighbors laying sandbags under a dark, stormy sky while a kid and her dog stand by.

Other examples: (1, 2)

7. The Obligatory Wind Shot

Diagnostic traits: Objects more sideways than usual. These scenes sometimes attract Intrepid Journalists.

Other examples: (1, 2)

8. The "Are you insane?"

"Surfing Irene". Photograph by G. E. Long.

Diagnostic traits: subjects apparently unaware there's a hurricane going on.

Other examples: (1, 2, 3, 4)

9. The #Instacane

Diagnostic traits: Artful vignetting, hashtags in the caption, may be interspersed in a social media stream with moody photos of food.

Other examples: (1, 2)

10. The Wreckage

Winds from Hurricane Katrina knocked over this tree crushing this Mobile home. MARVIN NAUMAN/FEMA photo.

Diagnostic traits: Trees where houses should be, houses where trees should be, unruly debris.

**Update. And how could I miss:

11. The Blatant Fake

On a more serious note: if you are in the path of this hurricane, please be careful! Pay attention to official advice and act accordingly.