Understanding the Effects of Natural Disasters on Health
It’s crucial to comprehend the impact of natural disasters on health so you can provide support to survivors and advocate for yourself if you’ve been through one. Here are five ways natural disasters can affect your health.
1. Causing Physical Injuries
On average, natural disasters globally claim around 60,000 lives each year. This figure doesn’t include individuals who might perish later due to lack of essentials like food, shelter, or medical assistance after a disaster disrupts the infrastructure.
During a natural disaster, the primary concern is physical harm. Being prepared by staying informed with local weather updates, planning for emergencies in your area, and prioritizing safety over belongings or finances can help reduce the risk of injury or death.
2. Adversely Affecting Living Conditions
After surviving a natural disaster safely, the next step is to assess how the event may have impacted your residence. Even if your home remains standing, flooding or earthquakes could affect its ability to provide proper shelter.
For example, in the case of flooding, it’s crucial to inspect your living space for mold. If left untreated, mold can spread rapidly and lead to various health issues, ranging from allergy symptoms to insomnia.
Water damage, earthquakes, and tornadoes can cause structural harm that compromises your home’s safety, potentially making it uninhabitable. Checking for any alterations and seeking professional help can ensure that your house has weathered the storm safely and is habitable again.
3. Heightening Risks of Contamination
Water quality can be compromised by natural disasters. Flooding, for example, can contaminate city water with chemicals and pollutants not typically present. Standing water can also harbor bacteria that can cause skin infections.
Even personal wells on your property can become contaminated as floodwaters mix with unknown substances. After a natural disaster, it’s crucial not to assume any water is safe to drink until it’s been tested.
During a disaster, freshwater sources can easily become contaminated, so having a robust water filter or bottled water on hand is advisable. This ensures access to safe fluids until regular water supply is restored.
4. Triggering Financial Strain
The financial losses from a disaster, such as damage to homes, vehicles, possessions, and potential workplaces, can be overwhelming even for those with stable finances. For individuals already facing financial struggles, the impact of a disaster can be devastating.
Financial concerns are among the primary stressors in the United States, and prolonged stress can affect physical health, leading to issues like headaches, digestive problems, depression, and substance abuse. Chronic stress weakens the body, making it more susceptible to illnesses.
To alleviate financial strain, it’s essential to plan for emergencies, save up for unexpected events, and support organizations that assist disaster-affected individuals, such as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, or Save the Children.
5. Influencing Mental Well-being
Many individuals who experience natural disasters may struggle with feelings of fear, helplessness, and anxiety. Some may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or feel overwhelmed by the aftermath.
It’s crucial for disaster survivors facing mental health challenges not to isolate themselves. Grief, anxiety, and hopelessness are normal responses after a traumatic event, but with the support of others, these feelings can be managed.
Rebuilding after a disaster takes time, but maintaining hope, seeking counseling, engaging with the community, and processing emotions can help safeguard mental health during the recovery process.
Standing Strong in the Face of Disaster
Natural disasters impact numerous individuals annually, leading to loss of life and adverse effects on survivors’ health, sometimes lasting years after the event. While preparedness and awareness can help prevent harm, it’s crucial to provide support and care for one another in the aftermath.
Fortunately, human resilience allows for recovery from highly stressful and traumatic events. When disasters occur, it’s vital to support and show compassion for each other during the recovery phase.
