A new study has found that hurricanes and tropical storms in the United States contribute to an additional 7,000 to 11,000 deaths over the 15 years following each event.
The research, published in the journal Nature, highlights the long-term health impacts of these storms, far beyond the immediate fatalities and damage typically associated with them.
Traditionally, attention has been focused on immediate causes of death during hurricanes, such as drowning or injuries from floodwaters.
However, this new study reveals that the long-term effects of hurricanes—stemming from the social and economic upheaval left in their wake—are far more deadly.
The findings indicate that tropical cyclones account for approximately 3.2% to 5.1% of all annual deaths in the continental U.S., which equates to about 55,280 to 88,080 excess deaths each year.
Co-author Solomon Hsiang of Stanford University highlighted the lack of research on these indirect deaths, which often result from stress and worsening of chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease long after the storm has dissipated.
Hsiang noted that the financial strain from storm damage can force people to dip into their savings, making them less able to afford health care and potentially leading to fatal consequences years later.
“Maybe, like, five or seven years later, they’re faced with some sort of health challenge that’s expensive, and when they look at their resources, they have fewer retirement savings than they would have otherwise had, and that leads them to make some sort of different health care choice that can have implications,” Hsiang explained.
The study looked at 501 tropical cyclones that hit the U.S. coastline between 1930 and 2015.
Researchers used maximum surface wind speeds as a measure of storm intensity and estimated changes in monthly state mortality rates for up to 20 years after each storm.
Despite better preparedness and adaptation measures, the study found “no evidence” that hurricanes several decades ago had more or less impact than those today, suggesting that the long-term health risks remain consistent.
One particularly alarming finding is the vulnerability of infants, with 99% of infant deaths occurring more than 21 months after the storm hit. This indicates that the storm’s indirect effects, such as reduced access to health care and increased financial stress, are critical factors.
In addition to infants, the study found that people under the age of 45 and African-Americans are at higher risk of long-term health impacts following a storm. Southeastern states like Florida and North Carolina saw the highest proportion of deaths attributable to tropical cyclones, accounting for 13% and 11% of deaths respectively.
Surprisingly, Hsiang and his co-author initially questioned their findings due to the sheer magnitude of the results. “This was challenging for us to absorb, like ourselves, because we were so surprised by the result,” he stated.
During the study period, tropical cyclones contributed to more deaths in the U.S.—between 3.6 to 5.2 million—than motor vehicle accidents and infectious diseases combined.
Environmental health professor Robbie Parks of Columbia University, who was not involved in the study, praised the research for highlighting the significant impact on younger populations, which has been previously underreported.
He suggested that the findings should prompt policymakers to focus on long-term recovery planning and allocate resources equitably to address these long-term health consequences.
With recent hurricanes like Helene causing widespread damage, the study shows the importance of creating disaster recovery plans that address both the immediate aftermath and the long-term health effects that can persist for years.