In 2024, the U.S. experienced 27 weather and natural disasters costing at least $1 billion in damages including hurricanes, wildfires, winter storms, and drought. While the immediate public health impacts of natural disasters are obvious, these events also spark a number of other longer-term problems. These impacts include:
1. Injuries
In the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, injuries are the first impacts that must be addressed. Community health workers may need to set up temporary triage areas to treat the wounded, depending on how severely local infrastructure has been affected. Earthquakes tend to result in the highest number of injuries, compared to other events such as tsunamis, floods, storms, or wildfires.
2. Chronic Disease Emergencies
While some natural disasters have a high rate of injuries, most result in power outages and infrastructure damage that lead to trouble for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Those living with diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease, or other conditions requiring constant care will often be the first to suffer if healthcare services are interrupted.
3. Hygienic Impacts and the Spread of Disease
When a natural disaster destroys infrastructure such as roads, water pipes, and gas lines, additional potential health impacts emerge. Contaminated water and the lack of a functioning sewer system can result in the spread of disease. Sustained power outages can cause food shortages, lost medicine, and the inability to run healthcare facilities safely.
4. Food Shortages
One short-term consequence of natural disasters that can stretch into a long-term problem is the issue of food shortages. While the disaster itself might have interrupted supply logistics in the area, damage to farms and factories could also spark longer-lasting food shortages. This can lead to an increase in food prices, putting a financial burden on disadvantaged populations who may not be able to afford basic groceries.
5. Mental Health Problems
The trauma of experiencing a natural disaster can cause widespread mental health problems. Immediate mental impacts include shock and grief, but as victims suffer the loss of homes, businesses, and loved ones, they often face longer-term problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. In the long term, natural disasters may also drive an increase in alcohol and drug abuse.
6. Damage to Healthcare Infrastructure
Anything from an extended power outage to physical damage at hospitals and other healthcare facilities can lead to a public health crisis for some citizens. Medicines are lost, equipment is damaged or destroyed, and hospital facilities are unable to treat patients adequately. Many people might also flee the area following a disaster, leaving healthcare facilities short-staffed. And with fewer residents, sometimes there is less impetus to rebuild broken healthcare infrastructure.