Extreme Weather as a Climate Health Hazard
This summary is part of the NAM’s “Communicating About Climate Change and Health” project. The project aims to support health providers and other communicators in sharing actionable information with patients and the public.
Health Impacts of Extreme Weather
Extreme weather events, often referred to as “natural disasters,” are linked to a range of impacts on human health, including death, injury, illness, exacerbation of underlying medical conditions, and adverse effects on mental health. Droughts, storms, floods, wildfires, and heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Globally, from 1970 to 2021, extreme weather events caused about 2 million deaths, 12,000 disasters, and $4.3 trillion in reported economic losses.
Some health impacts from extreme weather are direct and immediate, such as injuries and deaths that occur during hurricanes or floods. Other impacts are indirect and longer-term, including effects on mental health and consequences from interrupted access to essential health care services.
Evacuations pose specific health risks for older adults and people with disabilities and may be complicated by the need for transfer of medical records and medications. These events can also exacerbate chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.
Case Example
Impacts of Hurricanes on Children's Health
Hurricanes and other extreme weather events can take a serious toll on children's health and well-being as a result of displacement from their homes, exposure to contaminated water, emotional distress, and missed schooling.
Hurricane Harvey, which struck Texas and Louisiana in 2017, is one of the most destructive storms in history. Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Corpus Christi. The region experienced massive flooding caused by an unprecedented 33 trillion gallons of rain. More than 200,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and over 34,000 people took refuge in shelters.
In addition, there were concerns about water safety and quality after the local water supply was contaminated by wastewater and toxic substances from flooded Superfund sites. Parents reported worsening overall health for their children 6-9 months after the hurricane, especially in communities that experienced flooding.
Over 1 million children were not able to start school on time after Harvey. Even after schools were able to open, many operated in basic recovery mode for most of the school year. Both students and teachers were traumatized, and school counselors reported elevated suicidal ideation among students.
More than half of children exposed to a damaging hurricane show signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disruptive behavior, and other symptoms of psychological disturbance in the months immediately following the storm. But emotional impacts may persist for years. One study found that serious emotional distress persisted in children for more than 2 years after exposure to Hurricane Katrina, especially for children who lost a loved one or were exposed to serious adversities such as lack of food, shelter, and clothing.
These examples demonstrate some of the ways in which children's health and well-being are particularly affected by exposure to natural disasters, both immediately and over the long term.
Steps to Protect Your Health
Extreme weather can affect anyone, so it is important to stay informed about weather forecasts and warnings and be prepared for likely hazards in your area. Easy steps include developing a family emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, meeting spots, and how you will communicate with each other. It’s also helpful to prepare emergency kits to store in your home or car with essential supplies, such as water, non-perishable food, extra medications, an updated medication list if needed, and first aid items.
Take time before an extreme weather event to learn about your risks and vulnerabilities. For example, you can evaluate whether your home is prone to flooding. You may also want to understand the implications of power loss in your home. If your home relies on well water, you may lose water pressure when the power is out, so having backup water sources is important.
If you are living in a region prone to tornadoes, make sure you have a safe place to take shelter in your home. Options include a basement, an interior room away from windows, or a safe room. Stay connected to the local news or NOAA Weather Radio to be informed about tornado risks.
Lastly, extreme weather and natural disasters can be very stressful and traumatic. Be aware of the mental health impacts, seek support if needed, and reach out to friends and neighbors to see how they are doing.
Mitigation Strategies
While we don’t have the ability to prevent natural disasters, actions can be taken at the community level to mitigate risks, including early warning systems for residents. Nature-based solutions may also build community resilience, such as green infrastructure, urban greening, and restoration of natural habitats to help manage flood risks. “Rewilding,” the reintroduction of Indigenous plants and animals, can also restore balance to ecosystems and promote diversity, which has numerous benefits. Options within the engineered and built environment include sea walls, flood levees, and improved drainage to help reduce damages.
References and Related Resources
- Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water-Related Hazards (1970-2021) (World Meteorological Association, 2023)
- Type II Diabetes Emergency Room Visits Associated with Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey: Implications for Preparedness (Velez-Valle et al., 2016)
- Hurricane Harvey and climate change: The need for policy to protect children (Pacheco, 2018)
- Two Years After Hurricane Harvey, Educators Are Using Lessons Learned (UNICEF, 2019)
- Climate-Related Disasters and Children’s Health: Evidence from Hurricane Harvey (Raker, 2022)
- Serious Emotion Disturbance among Youth Exposed to Hurricane Katrina Two Years Post-Disaster (McLaughlin, 2009)
- Suicide ideation and a post-disaster assessment of risk and protective factors among Hurricane Harvey survivors (Fitzpatrick and Spialek, 2020)
- Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster (FDA, 2019)
- What to do during a tornado (National Weather Service, n.d.)
- Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (IPCC, 2014)
- Climate Change: Environmental Justice, Human Rights, and Peaceful Practices (Gilliam et al., 2023)
- Fifth National Climate Assessment (2023)
- U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit (n.d.)
- How to communicate about climate change with patients (Kotcher et al., 2024)
- Getting Real About Climate Action in 2023 (WebMD, 2023)
- Policy Brief for the United States of America (Lancet Countdown, 2023)
- Preparing for the Regional Health Impacts of Climate Change in the United States (2024)
DISCLAIMER: The information on this webpage is for general informational purposes only and should be not considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
This webpage summarizes available research on the health impacts of extreme weather and mitigation strategies. The content was reviewed for accuracy by members of the expert committee on Communicating About Climate Change and Health. The summary is intended to help inform and stimulate discussion. It is not a report of the National Academy of Medicine or the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Last updated April 10, 2025.
