Climate Change and Health: Extreme Events: Storms, Floods and Rising Seas

Extreme Events: Storms, Floods and Rising Seas

As the climate warms, we are seeing more frequent and more severe extreme weather events, many involving water. Direct effects from storms and floods can cause injury or death. Indirect effects can include mental and physical health effects from displacement and disruption of important infrastructure such as schools, work, food supply, sanitation and medical care.

As with many extreme weather events, the elderly are among the most vulnerable. In some hurricanes, the difficulties and stresses of moving vulnerable older adults has caused more deaths than the actual storms. 

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