Study Reveals Health Risks from Hurricanes Lead to Thousands of Premature Deaths

A recent study published in the journal Nature reveals that the health complications following hurricanes and tropical cyclones result in significantly more deaths than the storms themselves, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Researchers analyzed 501 hurricanes from 1930 to 2015, estimating that these events lead to between 7,170 and 11,430 premature deaths annually in the U.S.

The study highlights that factors such as physical and mental stress, chemical emissions from damaged facilities, and economic hardships contribute to this health crisis. Deaths linked to hurricanes account for 3.2% to 5.1% of total U.S. fatalities. Rachel Young, an environmental economics expert at UC Berkeley, noted the prolonged health risks, which can last up to 15 years post-storm.

Official data indicates that the average direct death toll from tropical cyclones over the past five decades is only 24. Recently, Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s northwest coast, causing over 160 deaths and extensive damage across multiple states.