As of October 2, the death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached a staggering 177, with many more individuals still missing, according to ABC News.
However, recent research indicates that the storm’s deadly impact may extend far beyond its immediate aftermath, potentially influencing mortality rates for up to 15 years. This sobering revelation underscores the profound and far-reaching health implications of hurricanes and other tropical storms.
Groundbreaking Study on Hurricane-Related Deaths
A study published in the journal Nature sheds new light on the long-term human cost of hurricanes. Researchers analyzed mortality data associated with 501 hurricanes and tropical storms that struck the Atlantic and Gulf coasts between 1930 and 2015.
The study found that each storm contributed an average of up to 11,000 excess deaths over the subsequent 15 years. This equates to a staggering 3.6 million to 5.2 million deaths during the study period—far exceeding the combined toll of car accidents, infectious diseases, and wars in the United States during the same timeframe.
These findings starkly contrast with official records, which attribute an average of just 24 deaths per storm. The discrepancy arises because traditional counts primarily focus on immediate fatalities, such as drownings or trauma-related deaths, and fail to account for the broader, long-term health consequences of these events.
“In any given month, people are dying earlier than they would have if the storm hadn’t hit their community,” explains Solomon Hsiang, PhD, the study’s senior author and a professor of environmental social sciences at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
“A big storm will hit, and there’s all these cascades of effects where cities are rebuilding, households are displaced, or social networks are broken. These cascades have serious consequences for public health,” he said in the statement.
The Long Shadow of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene, one of the latest devastating storms to strike the United States, exemplifies how these “cascades of effects” could lead to prolonged health impacts.
According to Sue Anne Bell, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Michigan with expertise in disaster response and community health, the ripple effects of such a disaster are far-reaching.
Dr. Bell paints a grim picture of life in the aftermath of a hurricane: “Your house is flooded, as is the rest of the town. You’ve lost your medication in the flood. You have to evacuate and miss an important medical appointment. You are eating poor-quality fast food or shelf-stable meals at the shelter you’ve evacuated to. You are spending more money while away from home than you budgeted for the month. And along with all that, you have the mental impact of knowing your home is severely damaged, as is your local community.”
These scenarios, though anecdotal, highlight the compounded stresses that can severely affect individuals’ long-term health. Beyond immediate injuries, survivors face years of exposure to polluted air, water, and food, coupled with the psychological and financial burdens of displacement, property loss, and community disruption.
“Such impacts increase the risk of mortality due to several chronic diseases, including diabetes, mental illness, suicide, and cardiovascular diseases,” adds Naresh Kumar, PhD, an environmental health professor at the University of Miami.
Disparities in Hurricane-Related Mortality
The study also revealed troubling disparities in hurricane-related deaths. Nationwide, over 3% of all deaths are linked to tropical cyclones, both in the short and long term. Black individuals are more than three times as likely to die from hurricane-related causes than white individuals. Additionally, the research found that roughly one in four infant deaths and 15% of fatalities among individuals aged 1 to 44 are hurricane-related.
These disparities reflect systemic vulnerabilities, including socioeconomic factors, access to healthcare, and the ability to evacuate or recover after a disaster. However, the study faced limitations in providing a more granular understanding of these issues.
Researchers based their storm assessments on wind speeds, excluding critical factors like storm surges, rainfall, and flooding. Moreover, they lacked detailed demographic data, which could provide a clearer picture of at-risk populations.
Immediate and Long-Term Health Impacts
In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, fatalities are often caused by drowning, injuries from collapsing structures, car accidents during evacuations, electrocution from downed power lines, and carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly ventilated generators. These traumatic deaths, while devastating, are just the beginning of a broader pattern of health impacts.
“The best way to avoid these traumatic deaths is to not be exposed to them—evacuate prior to the storm,” advises David Abramson, PhD, MPH, a clinical professor at New York University and director of the Center for Public Health Disaster Science.
However, the long-term health consequences are harder to mitigate. Chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and financial strain can linger for years, creating a cumulative toll that far exceeds the immediate destruction.
A Call to Action
The findings of this study highlight the need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and recovery strategies. It is not enough to focus solely on evacuation and immediate relief efforts. Long-term support systems are essential to help communities rebuild and recover in ways that safeguard public health.
Additionally, addressing systemic inequalities is crucial to reducing the disproportionate impact of hurricanes on vulnerable populations. Investments in infrastructure, healthcare access, and social support can play a pivotal role in mitigating the long-term effects of these disasters.
Hurricane Helene serves as a stark reminder of the profound and lasting impacts of climate-related disasters. By understanding and addressing these challenges, society can work toward building more resilient communities and saving lives—not just in the moment, but for decades to come.
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