January 8, 2025
2 minutes read
Flooding’s Hidden Killers Include Heart Attacks and Infections
Flood deaths can increase by 25% three months after a disaster, according to a new study.
People survey flood damage in Biltmore Village in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hurricane Helen made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Thursday night with winds of up to 140 mph.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Climate Wire | Floods may be more deadly than previously thought and may result in more than just drowning.
Study published Tuesday nature They found that U.S. death tolls in flooded areas continued to rise for up to three months after a disaster. This resulted in a 25% higher mortality rate. Compared to non-flood periods, you are protected from risks such as infection, injury and heart disease.
Researchers at Columbia University used statistical models to analyze national mortality data from 2001 to 2018 and calculate how mortality rates changed in the three months after the floods compared to normal conditions.
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They found that residents in 2,711 counties experienced flooding during that period, with heavy rain and snowmelt being the main causes of the flooding.
“Our results show that flooding is associated with higher mortality rates for most leading causes of death, even for rain- and snow-related flooding, which are less likely to generate a rapid emergency response than hurricanes.” said author and postdoctoral researcher Victoria Lynch. at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.
In particular, the researchers found that rain-related flooding was associated with increased deaths from infectious diseases, while flooding caused by snowmelt was associated with higher mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
“There is a hidden burden of flood exposure that people may not think will affect them over time,” said author Robbie Parks, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University. “Infection is a huge problem, but the indirect effects of flooding can also have an impact on cardiovascular health due to added stress.”
Reprinted from E&E News With permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news to energy and environmental professionals.
