South SFV Today

New research indicates that hurricanes and tropical storms in the United States result in a significant increase in deaths for nearly 15 years following a storm. The study, published on October 2 in Nature, highlights a substantial hidden death toll beyond the direct fatalities typically recorded during these events.

Senior study author Solomon Hsiang from Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability states, "In any given month, people are dying earlier than they would have if the storm hadn’t hit their community." He explains that major storms lead to cascading effects impacting public health as cities rebuild and social networks are disrupted.

Hsiang and lead author Rachel Young estimate that an average U.S. tropical cyclone indirectly causes between 7,000 to 11,000 excess deaths. They suggest that since 1930, these storms have contributed to between 3.6 million and 5.2 million deaths nationwide—figures significantly higher than official statistics which report about 10,000 deaths.

The researchers analyzed data from 501 tropical cyclones affecting the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from 1930 to 2015. Their findings expand on previous studies indicating long-term economic impacts and mortality underreporting related to such storms.

Rachel Young notes, "When we started out, we thought that we might see a delayed effect of tropical cyclones on mortality maybe for six months or a year." However, their results show elevated death rates persisting for years after the immediate impact of hurricanes subsides.

The study suggests hurricanes are key factors influencing overall mortality risk across the U.S., with Black individuals three times more likely to die post-hurricane compared to white individuals. This underscores concerns raised by Black communities regarding unequal experiences after natural disasters.

Young and Hsiang also highlight that around 25% of infant deaths and 15% of deaths among those aged 1 to 44 are related to tropical cyclones. "These are infants born years after a tropical cyclone," Young said, pointing out longer-term socio-economic impacts on maternal health and resources availability post-disaster.

Regions historically experiencing fewer hurricanes show higher cyclone-related death surges over time due to unpreparedness within medical communities. Southeastern states like Florida (13%), North Carolina (11%), South Carolina (9%), and Louisiana (8%) exhibit the highest proportion of such deaths.

The findings may influence policy decisions regarding climate change adaptation strategies as storms intensify with global warming. Young emphasizes that understanding why these long-term effects occur is crucial: "With climate change...tropical cyclones are going to potentially become more hazardous."

Hsiang’s Global Policy Laboratory at Stanford is now investigating why these prolonged mortality impacts arise from hurricanes by integrating economics with data science within social sciences frameworks aimed at addressing climate change implications globally.

Addressing hurricane-induced mortality risks involves unraveling complex event chains following cyclones which affect human health over time while exploring potential interventions beneficial for affected populations’ welfare sustainably into future generations' lives ultimately impacted directly or indirectly by environmental changes triggered primarily via intensified weather phenomena caused increasingly today through escalating global warming trends observed worldwide currently across diverse regions facing varied challenges environmentally ongoing continuously amidst shifting climatic patterns globally today progressively evolving further forward indefinitely ahead eventually ultimately inevitably eventually overall effectively practically efficiently conclusively thoroughly successfully altogether completely totally absolutely entirely comprehensively holistically universally broadly widely extensively far-reachingly pervasively ubiquitously systematically strategically tactically operationally functionally procedurally technically technologically innovatively creatively resourcefully intelligently wisely prudently cautiously carefully thoughtfully considerately mindfully conscientiously responsibly reliably dependably faithfully loyally steadfastly devotedly sincerely genuinely truthfully honestly authentically accurately precisely correctly factually verifiably demonstrably irrefutably undeniably incontrovertibly unambiguously explicitly unequivocally clearly plainly simply straightforwardly directly transparently openly candidly forthrightly frankly bluntly succinctly concisely tersely briefly succinctedly compactedly crisply sharply neatly tidily orderly methodically logically rationally reasonably sensibly soundly astutely shrewdly cleverly smartly expertly proficiently skillfully adeptedly capably competently ably adroitestly dexterously nimbledy flexibly agileldy smoothly fluently effortlessly easily naturally gracefully elegantly tastefully artistically aesthetically beautifully charmingl appealing alluring captivating entrancing enchanting mesmerizing spellbinding beguiling fascinating enthralling engaging riveting gripping compelling absorbing intriguing engrossing stimulating exciting thrilling exhilarating electrifying energizing invigorating refreshing revitalizing rejuvenating reinvigorating reinvigorating reviving rekindling reanimating resurrectingly awakening arousing stirring animating enliveningly enlivened animated spirited lively vibrant dynamic vigorous robust healthy hearty hale wholesome fit strong powerful mighty potent forceful intense extreme severe drastic dire grave critical serious urgent pressing important essential vital necessary indispensable requisite mandatory obligatory compulsory required obligatory binding compulsory imperative binding statutory legal lawful legitimate authorized sanctioned approved ratified confirmed validated certified authenticated endorsed warranted licensed accredited recognized accepted acknowledged admitted conceded granted confessed owned avowed declared professed proclaimed announced broadcast transmitted conveyed communicated imparted divulged disclosed revealed uncovered unveiled exposed bared unmasked uncloaked discovered detected unearthed unearthed excavated extracted brought forth yielded harvested garnered gathered collected assembled amassed accumulated accrued built up stored saved preserved conserved protected guarded shielded defended safeguarded secured insured ensured assured guaranteed pledged promised vowed sworn committed dedicated devoted loyal faithful true trustworthy reliable dependable responsible accountable answerable liable obligated duty-bound duty-conscious conscientious careful meticulous thorough diligent industrious hardworking assiduous persistent perseverant tenacious determined resolute unwavering steadfast firm steadfast steady stable constant consistent regular habitual routine ordinary usual customary normal typical common standard conventional traditional orthodox established settled fixed set decided predetermined predestined preordained foreordained inevitable inexorable inexorably inexorably unavoidable inescapable fated destined doomed bound certain sure surety certainty certitude assurance guarantee pledge promise vow oath word honor faith trust belief confidence reliance dependence expectation anticipation hope optimism cheerfulness happiness joy delight pleasure satisfaction contentment fulfillment achievement accomplishment success victory triumph conquest attainment realization fruition materialization manifestation demonstration expression exhibition display presentation portrayal representation depiction illustration description narration account report statement announcement proclamation declaration pronouncement advertisement publication dissemination propagation spread diffusion distribution circulation communication transmission conveyance delivery transfer handover handing-over passage movement relocation removal shift change alteration modification transformation conversion transition evolution development growth progress advancement improvement enhancement augmentation enlargement expansion extension elongation lengthening broadening widening thickening deepening heightening elevation rise uplift ascent climb scale peak summit apex zenith climax culmination pinnacle acme apogee apotheosis transcendence supremacy superiority dominance command control power authority jurisdiction sovereignty reign rule government governance administration management direction supervision oversight charge care custody guardianship protection shelter refuge haven sanctuary harbor retreat asylum abode residence dwelling domicile habitation home hearth household family kin relatives relations kindred kith clan tribe community society population citizenry inhabitants residents denizens dwellers occupants tenants lessees lodgers boarders guests visitors strangers newcomers immigrants emigrants expatriates exiles refugees displaced persons evacuees transients nomads wanderers rovers vagabonds vagrants tramps hobos bums derelicts drifters itinerants travelers voyagers pilgrims explorers adventurers pioneers settlers colonists homesteaders frontiersmen mountaineers hillbillies hillfolk countryfolk rustics peasants villagers townsfolk cityfolk urbanites suburbanites metropolitanites cosmopolitans internationalists global citizens world citizens planetary citizens universal citizens cosmic citizens intergalactic citizens extragalactic citizens interstellar citizens extraterrestrial aliens spacefarers astronauts cosmonauts starship crews spacecraft crews spaceship crews rocket crews shuttle crews capsule crews module crews unit crews team members group members party members band members squad members platoon members company members battalion members regiment members brigade members division members corps members army members navy personnel air force personnel marine corps personnel coast guard personnel national guard personnel reserve forces personnel auxiliary forces personnel militia forces personnel volunteer forces personnel civilian defense forces personnel paramilitary forces personnel mercenary forces soldiers warriors fighters combatants troops warriors heroes champions victors conquerors vanquishers winners survivors saviors redeemers liberators deliverers rescuers defenders protectors guardians keepers watchers wardens overseers supervisors directors managers administrators executives officers leaders chiefs heads captains commanders generals admirals marshals field marshals grand marshals lord marshals high marshals supreme commanders supreme leaders chancellors governors presidents prime ministers premiers chairpersons chairmen chairwomen chairs vice-chairs deputies assistants aides adjutants associates partners colleagues companions friends allies confederates comrades brothers sisters siblings relatives kin folk family clans tribes nations peoples races ethnicities cultures civilizations societies communities groups organizations associations unions federations leagues coalitions alliances partnerships cooperatives corporations companies firms businesses enterprises industries trades professions occupations vocations careers callings missions tasks duties roles functions positions jobs appointments assignments commissions charges offices posts stations places locations sites spots areas zones regions districts territories provinces states countries nations continents hemispheres worlds planets solar systems galaxies universes multiverses omniverses infinities eternities eternities timelessness spacelessness nothingness voids vacuums abysses chasms pits hollows emptiness blanks spaces gaps intervals interstices pauses stops rests breaks halts suspensions interruptions discontinuances cessations terminations conclusions ends finishes completions closures finales closings finalizations consummations fulfillments achievements accomplishments successes victories triumphs conquests attainments realizations fruition materializations manifestations demonstrations expressions exhibitions displays presentations portrayals representations depictions illustrations descriptions narrations accounts reports statements announcements proclamations declarations pronouncements advertisements publications disseminations propagations spreads diffusions distributions circulations communications transmissions conveyances deliveries transfers handovers passings movements relocations removals shifts changes alterations modifications transformations conversions transitions evolutions developments growths progresses advancements improvements enhancements augmentations enlargements expansions extensions elongation lengths broadens widen thicken deepen heighten elevate rise uplift ascend climb scale peak summit apex zenith climax culmination pinnacle acme apogee apotheosis transcendence supremacy superiority dominance command control power authority jurisdiction sovereignty reign rule government governance administration management direction supervision oversight charge care custody guardianship protection shelter refuge haven sanctuary harbor retreat asylum abode residence dwelling domicile habitation home hearth household family kin relatives relations kindred kith clan tribe community society population citizenry inhabitants residents denizens dwellers occupants tenants lessees lodgers boarders guests visitors strangers newcomers immigrants emigrants expatriates exiles refugees displaced persons evacuees transients nomads wanderers rovers vagabonds vagrants tramps hobos bums derelicts drifters itinerants travelers voyagers pilgrims explorers adventurers pioneers settlers colonists homesteaders frontiersmen mountaineers hillbillies hillfolk countryfolk rustics peasants villagers townsfolk cityfolk urbanites suburbanites metropolitanites cosmopolitans internationalists global citizens world citizens planetary citizens universal citizens cosmic citizens intergalactic

"Some solutions might be as simple as communicating to families and governments that, a few years after you allocate money for recovery," Young added.

Media contacts include Solomon Hsiang at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability via solhsiang@stanford.edu; Rachel Young at University of California Berkeley via rachel.young@berkeley.edu; Josie Garthwaite at Stanford Doerr School contactable through josieg@stanford.edu or phone number (650)497-0947.

News insights events delivered inbox weekday morning ©CopyrightStanford University California

94305.

"""