Where is natural disasters

Two very recent earthquakes — the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami of , and Port-au-Prince earthquake — feature amongst the most deadly in human history. But equally, some of the most fatal occurred in the very distant past. Making the top three was the earthquake in Antakya Turkey in the year Both old and very recent feature near the top the list.

The deadly nature earthquakes has been a persistent threat throughout our history. There are a large number of volcanoes across the world which are volcanically active, but display little or only very low-level activity.

In the map we see the number of significant volcanic eruptions which occur in each country in a given year. Estimates of volcanic eruptions are available dating back as early as BCE, however, the data completeness for long historic events will be much lower than in the recent past. In the visualization we see the number of deaths from significant volcanic eruptions across the world. Using the timeline on the map we can see the frequency of volcanic activity deaths over time.

As we would expect, the risks of landslides are much greater close to highly mountainous regions with dense neighbouring populations.

This makes the mortality risk highest across the Andes region in South America, and the Himalayas across Asia. We cover the history of Famines in detail in our dedicated entry here. For this research we assembled a new global dataset on famines from the s until In the visualization shown here we see trends in drought severity in the United States.

Given is the annual data of drought severity, plus the 9-year average. This is measured by the The Palmer Drought Severity Index: the average moisture conditions observed between and at a given location is given an index value of zero. A positive value means conditions are wetter than average, while a negative value is drier than average. A value between -2 and -3 indicates moderate drought, -3 to -4 is severe drought, and -4 or below indicates extreme drought.

Trends in the US provide some of the most complete data on impacts and deaths from weather events over time. This chart shows death rates from lightning and other weather events in the United States over time. Death rates are given as the number of deaths per million individuals. Over this period, we see that on average each has seen a significant decline in death rates. This is primarily the result of improved infrastructure, predicted and response systems to disaster events.

A key metric for assessing hurricane severity is their intensity, and the power they carry. The visualizations here use two metrics to define this: the accumulated cyclone energy ACE , an index that measures the activity of a cyclone season; and the power dissipation index of cyclones.

In the visualization shown we see the global precipitation anomaly each year; trends in the US-specific anomaly can be found here.

This precipitation anomaly is measured relative to the century average from to Positive values indicate a wetter year than normal; negative values indicate a drier year.

Also shown is US-specific data on the share of land area which experiences unusually high precipitation in any given year. We can look at precipitation anomalies over the course of year, however, flooding events are often caused by intense rainfall over much shorter periods. Flooding events tend to occur when there is extremely high rainfall over the course of hours or days.

The visualization here shows the extent of extreme one-day precipitation in the US. What we see is a general upwards trend in the extent of extreme rainfall in recent decades. Extreme temperature risks to human health and mortality can result from both exposure to extreme heat and cold. In the visualizations shown here we see long-term data on heatwaves and unusually high temperatures in the United States. Overall we see there is significant year-to-year variability in the extent of heatwave events.

What stands out over the past century of data was the North American heatwave — one of the most extreme heat wave events in modern history, which coincided with the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the s.

Whilst we often focus on heatwave and warm temperatures in relation to weather extremes, extremely low temperatures can often have a high toll on human health and mortality. In the visualization here we show trends in the share of US land area experiencing unusually low winter temperatures.

In recent years there appears to have been a declining trend in the extent of the US experiencing particularly cold winters. In the charts below we provide three overviews: the number of wildfires, the total acres burned, and the average acres burned per wildfire. This data is shown from onwards, when comparable data recording began.

Over the past years we notice three general trends in the charts below although there is significant year-to-year variability :. The original statistics are available back to the year When we look at this long-term series our chart is here it suggests there has been a significant decline in acres burned over the past century.

However, the NIFC explicitly state:. Prior to , sources of these figures are not known, or cannot be confirmed, and were not derived from the current situation reporting process. As a result the figures prior to should not be compared to later data. The lack of reliable methods of measurement and reporting mean some historic statistics may in fact be double or triple-counted in national statistics.

This means we cannot compare the recent data below with old, historic records. Historically, fires were an often-used method of clearing land for agriculture, for example.

This chart shows the declining death rate due to lightning strikes in the US. In the first decade of the 20th century the average annual rate of deaths was 4. In the first 15 years of the 21st century the death rate had declined to an average of 0. This is a fold reduction in the likelihood of being killed by lightning in the US. The map here shows the distribution of lightning strikes across the world. This is given as the lightning strike density — the average strikes per square kilometer each year.

In particular we see the high frequency of strikes across the Equatorial regions, especially across central Africa. Natural disasters not only have devastating impacts in terms of the loss of human life, but can also cause severe destruction with economic costs. When we look at global economic costs over time in absolute terms we tend to see rising costs. But, importantly, the world — and most countries — have also gotten richer.

Global gross domestic product has increased more than four-fold since We might therefore expect that for any given disaster, the absolute economic costs could be higher than in the past. A more appropriate metric to compare economic costs over time is to look at them in relation to GDP. This is the indicator adopted by all countries as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to monitor progress on resilience to disaster costs.

In the chart shown here we see global direct disaster losses given as a share of GDP. There is notable year-to-year variability in costs — ranging from 0. In recent decades there has been no clear trending increase in damages when we take account of economic growth over this period.

This is also true when we look at damages specifically for weather-related disasters. This trend in damages relative to global GDP is also shown in the interactive chart. Since economic losses from disasters in relation to GDP is the indicator adopted by all countries within the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this data is also now reported for each country. The map shows direct disaster costs for each country as a share of its GDP.

Here we see large variations by country — a fold difference ranging from less than 0. This data can be found in absolute terms here.

The two authors found that for every person killed by a volcano, nearly 40, people have to die of a food shortage to get the same probability of coverage in US televised news. In other words, the type of disaster matters to how newsworthy networks find it to be. The findings tells us, among other important things, that networks tend to be selective in their coverage and attention is not reflecting the severity and number of people killed or affected by a natural disaster. Food shortages , for example, result in the most casualties and affect the most people per incident 13 but their onset is more gradual than that of a volcanic explosion or sudden earthquake.

This bias for the spectacular is not only unfair and misleading, but also has the potential to misallocate attention and aid. Disasters that happen in an instant leave little time for preventative intervention. On the other hand, the gradual disasters that tend to affect more lives build up slowly, allowing more time for preventative measures to be taken. However, in a Catch situation, the gradual nature of these calamities is also what prevents them from garnering the media attention they deserve.

There are other biases, too. However, after controlling for disaster type, along with other factors such as the number killed and the timing of the news, there is no significant difference between coverage of African and Asian disasters. Instead, a huge difference emerges between coverage of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific on the one hand, and Europe and South and Central America, on the other.

The two visualizations show the extent of this bias. One of the major successes over the past century has been the dramatic decline in global deaths from natural disasters — this is despite the fact that the human population has increased rapidly over this period. Behind this improvement has been the improvement in living standards; access to and development of resilient infrastructure; and effective response systems.

These factors have been driven by an increase in incomes across the world. What remains true today is that populations in low-income countries — those where a large percentage of the population still live in extreme poverty , or score low on the Human Development Index — are more vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.

We see this effect in the visualization shown. This chart shows the death rates from natural disasters — the number of deaths per , population — of countries grouped by their socio-demographic index SDI. What we see is that the large spikes in death rates occur almost exclusively for countries with a low or low-middle SDI. Highly developed countries are much more resilient to disaster events and therefore have a consistently low death rate from natural disasters.

Note that this does not mean low-income countries have high death tolls from disasters year-to-year: the data here shows that in most years they also have very low death rates. Natural Resources Defense Council. The authors of this report analyze the results of independent peer-reviewed scientific papers and present the findings of increasing heat-related mortality due to global warming for the 40 largest U.

Their findings indicate that rising temperatures, driven by persistent climate change, will increase the number of life-threatening excessive heat events. Anderson, B. The authors applied time-series models to a year dataset featuring U. Davis, R. Heidari, L. The researchers studied data on daily temperature and fluid and electrolyte imbalance FEI emergency department ED visits in Atlanta, GA, between and Analyses indicated higher risks for all populations, but particularly males.

Jagai, J. PLoS One. The authors combined data from emergency medical services EMS and emergency department ED visits over a period of time in New York City to calculate heat-related mortality. Li, M. This analysis of 33 studies found that the elderly, males, children, and those with chronic diseases were more vulnerable during heat waves. The authors also found that certain social factors e.

They suggest incorporating morbidity indicators into heat wave early warning systems to bolster health response. Soneja, S. Staff from Kaiser Hospital Santa Rosa CA share their personal experiences with the wildfire and professional experiences evacuating a hospital in the midst of one.

Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke. The information on this webpage can help first responders and community members understand the risk and protect themselves from the effects of wildfire smoke. Coleman, K. County of Marin Health and Human Services. This 2. Doubleday, A. Finlay, S. Health Impacts of Wildfires. Nov 2;4:e4fcce2c. The authors conducted a comprehensive literature review of international research on wildfire-related health effects and led several focus groups with study authors.

Results indicated that certain populations are especially vulnerable; wood smoke has high toxicity levels; respiratory morbidity is the leading health effect, wildfire exposure is also associated with burns and related effects and cardiovascular, ophthalmic, and psychiatric problems. National Resources Defense Council.

Readers can learn about how smoke from wildfires—both near and far—can have an effect on health. Maps that show how smoke from wildfires in affected many areas of the U.

Fires and Wildfires: Health Information Guide. This webpage provides links to fire and health-related information and other relevant resources. Apisarnthanarak, A. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. In this article, the authors discuss infection prevention and control experiences related to the reopening of medical facilities after recent disasters in Thailand and the U. This case study includes lessons learned from record flooding in and select flood response plan components provided by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, NY.

Bandino, J. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. The authors provide information for clinicians caring for flood victims. They describe the conditions seen in patients following floods, and characterize the causative agents of these conditions. Treatment is also discussed. Goldbaum, G. Public Health's Response to the Oso Mudslide. This one-hour webinar features Gary Goldbaum of the Snohomish Health District who shares how his health district worked with partner agencies in response to the Oso, Washington mudslide in March He also discusses the roles of public health when responding to a mass fatality disaster, key barriers to effective response during a mass fatality disaster, strategies for overcoming those barriers, and key partners for assuring effective response to a mass fatality disaster.

Stories from the Field: Severe Flooding in Nevada. Kshirsagar, N. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. This article discusses the impact of the Mumbai floods and the provision of shelter-based and community care for over , cases of diarrhea, many consistent with leptospirosis by hospital staff and medical students, detailing the substantially increased risk of communicable disease during flooding events with poor sanitary conditions.

Journal of Environmental and Public Health. Article ID The authors provide a review of the health impacts of U. Based on the literature reviewed, indicators of health vulnerability were selected and mapped within NYC neighborhoods. Langdon, S. The American Surgeon. The author discusses infectious disease risks associated with extreme weather events, drawing on recent experiences, including Hurricane Katrina in and the Pakistan mega-floods. Historical examples from previous centuries of epidemics and "pestilence" associated with extreme weather disasters and climatic changes are also discussed.

Pereira, B. American Journal of Disaster Medicine. The authors discuss lessons learned from this flood and landslide event in , with a focus on pre-hospital and hospital organization and management of patients. They also describe the most common injuries treated injuries were to the extremities, most requiring only wound cleaning, debridement, and suture , and note that the primary cause of death was from asphyxia due to drowning or mud burial.

Floods: Health Information Guide. This webpage provides links to flood and health-related information and other relevant resources.

Philadelphia County, in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, used the emPOWER Emergency Response Outreach Individual Dataset to provide targeted public health messaging and direct contact information for support services, including grocery and utility bill paying assistance, to approximately 13, at-risk individuals. Philadelphia also leveraged emPOWER data to identify and partner with home health agencies, to reinforce these public health and safety messages and provided additional resources for their staff and patients.

ADHS developed systems, processes and deployable equipment and supply caches to support 1, at-risk individuals in a response. Lichtenberg, T. The Rural Monitor. This report highlights how rural healthcare facilities can prepare for natural and human-caused disasters and the importance of flexibility. The author also shares lessons learned from rural communities and providers who responded to a tornado in Iowa, an earthquake in Alaska, and an armed hostage standoff in South Dakota.

The authors review wind disaster incidents including hurricanes and cyclones worldwide from , including a subcategory of tornados in the U.

Results include injury data and descriptions both prior, during, and after impact and information on damage to healthcare facilities and infrastructure. State of Science. This is the first webinar in a series of webinars, workshops, pilot studies, and regional preparedness exercises to discuss the current state and future direction of critical healthcare infrastructure modeling for disaster events. Suneja, A. This report provides public and private state and local stakeholders with information to help them better understand and support the post-disaster needs of individuals with chronic conditions.

It highlights the strengths and weaknesses that have been experienced, or are anticipated in current approaches to this issue. Abramson, D. The authors examine the impact of Hurricane Sandy "the dose" on the health and well-being of New Jersey residents "the response" exposed to the storm. Primary findings include: the negative effect housing damage had on residents' health is similar to the effect of poverty; some toxins e. This report summarizes the findings from a research project conducted to evaluate how the healthcare system was negatively affected in preparation for, during, and after Hurricane Sandy.

Lessons learned from the hospital, EMS, and ancillary services i. Arrieta, M. American Journal of Medical Sciences. The authors interviewed 30 key informants KI , including health and social service providers that provide healthcare to the under- and uninsured along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. Pre-disaster issues of importance were patient education and preparedness; evacuation guidance and support; planning for special medical needs shelters; and health care provider preparedness.

The authors interviewed 30 key informants, including health and social service providers that provide healthcare to the under- and uninsured along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast.

Respondents indicated that mental health, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, respiratory illness, end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer were medical management priorities after a disaster. The most frequently mentioned barrier to providing care was maintaining continuity of medications. Inaccessible medical records, poor patient knowledge, and financial constraints also impacted care.

Hurricane Resources at Your Fingertips. Barkemeyer, B. The authors share lessons learned by staff in a Florida hospital that experienced the effects of Hurricane Irma in , including: providing fuel for staff vehicles so they can get to work; having hard copies of plans and contact lists available for all key staff; devising staffing plans in advance of the storm to create three teams to ensure staffing before, during, and after the storm; and having emergency contacts in place with key vendors.

Berggren, R. Hurricane Katrina. Unexpected Necessities--Inside Charity Hospital. The New England Journal of Medicine. The author describes her experience in Charity Hospital following Hurricane Katrina, with a focus on the unexpected necessities e.

BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas. Brevard, S. The Journal of Trauma. The authors retrospectively reviewed their hospital's disaster plan and compared it with actual events that occurred after Hurricane Katrina. They evaluated and scored vital support areas as adequate 3 pts , partially adequate 2 pts , or inadequate 1 pt , with the following results: water The authors concluded that, despite writing and exercising plans, the hospital was still not fully prepared. Caspers, C. This article demonstrates the usefulness and diverse population base that can be cared for by an emergency department ED Observation Unit.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Hurricanes. This website contains links to all hurricane-related MMWRs, including valuable epidemiologic information from multiple hurricanes, mold-related and other post-hurricane illnesses and injuries, and longer-term health effects. Dorsey, D. Southern Medical Journal. The authors share how lessons learned in patient movement and other planning and response capabilities have been incorporated since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Health Care in Puerto Rico and the U. This document provides an overview of the status of the recovery in Puerto Rico and the U. Virgin islands six months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, with a focus on the health care systems and health needs of residents.

It builds on earlier work that examined how residents in Puerto Rico were faring two months after the hurricanes, and key issues for recovery in Puerto Rico and the U. Virgin Islands identified during a Fall roundtable with key stakeholders. Stories from the Field: Hurricane Matthew in Florida.

DHEC later conducted recovery outreach to at-risk individuals to assess ongoing recovery needs and level of preparedness, and provide informational resources. Horahan, K. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics. The authors describe a novel approach to reestablishing connectivity with the electronic health records server for a hospital affected by Superstorm Sandy through resource-sharing of a disaster response asset from a hospital in a neighboring state.

Icenogle, M. American Journal of Medical Science. The authors present findings from a qualitative study of participants representing healthcare and social services organizations serving health disparate residents of the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast.

They note that participant organizations have implemented changes to ensure continuity of care for the chronically ill in case of disasters e. Jarrett, M. Journal of Emergency Management. The authors share the experience of a hospital faced with deciding whether to evacuate or shelter in place while in the path of a hurricane two years in a row. An appendix at the end can be used as a planning tool to help other facilities facing similar challenges.

Journal of Emergency Medicine: 16 2 : The authors compare one hospital's experiences deciding between evacuating and sheltering in place before a hurricane in two consecutive years. They took different approaches each year and the article highlights lessons learned.

Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. This paper addresses the overarching healthcare status of the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and their potential impact on other locations across the nation. Mitchell, L. Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike.

AORN Journal. The authors describe how their hospital system's response plans were revised after Hurricane Rita in anticipation of Hurricane Ike in They note that, despite planning and exercising their plan, there were still a number of lessons learned that could be helpful to other hospitals during future disaster responses.

Office of the Inspector General. The authors surveyed Medicare-certified hospitals located in declared disaster areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York during Superstorm Sandy and conducted 10 site visits and collected other types of data.

The report describes several cases of flooded hospitals and recommends continued community disaster collaboration. Okie, S. The author discusses the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a physician and two nurses for allegedly euthanizing four elderly patients at Memorial Hospital in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

Ramme, A. The authors describe the challenges associated with evacuation of a morbidly obese patient during Superstorm Sandy, and how those challenges influenced the decision not to evacuate the patient, even in the absence of power and running water. Redlener, I. This article discusses lessons learned from the evacuation of two NYC area hospitals in response to Hurricane Sandy in Rosen, Y. The authors discuss the challenges and benefits of transferring their patients to other hospitals along with their care teams in preparation for, and following Hurricane Sandy.

Schreiber, M. Red Cross disaster mental health volunteers used an evidence-based tool called PsySTART to collect data on risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , depression, and anxiety among survivors at shelters, emergency aid stations, and mobile feeding and community outreach centers.

They found 17, risk factors, with significant differences across survivors in eight counties. They also found survivors with high risk in areas apart from those with the greatest physical damage. Sullivent, E. Journal of Safety Research. Just after Hurricane Katrina, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to establish an injury and illness surveillance system in functioning hospitals and medical clinics.

Residents were more likely than relief workers to be injured. Texas Hospital Association. The Texas Hospital Association met with hospital representatives from areas affected by Hurricane Harvey and agency partners to discuss experiences prior to, during, and after the storm. This document highlights identified areas for improvement "to better equip hospitals, governmental agencies and other organizations for the next disaster" and outlines how to incorporate next steps.

Tsai, S. The authors examined syndromic surveillance data for emergency department ED visits in New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy in , and compared it to ED visit data during the same time periods the previous year to better understand the effects of the storm on the health of affected individuals. Hurricanes: Health Information Guide. This webpage provides links to hurricanes health-related information and other relevant resources. This document highlights common post-disaster recovery planning challenges for small and medium-sized healthcare facilities; shares strategies for short- and long-term recovery; and identifies support resources.

Information is presented in four categories: financial and legal; operational planning; workforce; and training and testing. Wang, A. This brief article describes the causes of death associated with Hurricane Matthew in It reminds clinicians to consider fungal infections in individuals presenting with necrotizing soft-tissue infections following tornadoes, and to begin treatment as soon as possible in suspected cases.

Chern J. Journal of Neurosurgery. The authors review the clinical courses of 24 patients who suffered cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerve injuries due to the tornadoes that touched down in Alabama in , and the medical responses of the pediatric neurosurgical team they were part of. Chiu, C. Mortality from a Tornado Outbreak, Alabama, April 27, The authors examined the demographics of the decedents from the tornado outbreak in Alabama on April 27, and found that females and older adults were at highest risk for tornado-related deaths.

The authors stressed the importance of local community shelters and messaging to inform residents of shelter locations ; encouragement of word-of-mouth warnings; and personal and family preparedness planning with a focus on helping vulnerable population members take shelter.

Daley, W. American Journal of Epidemiology. On May 3, , powerful tornadoes, including a category F5 tornado, swept through Oklahoma. The authors examined all tornado-related deaths, hospital admissions, and emergency department visits to identify important risk factors.

Forshee-Hakala, B. American Journal of Infection Control. She found a higher incidence of pneumonia cases, particularly those caused by uncommon microbes, in the group of cases that lived or worked in the tornado zone in the year following the Joplin tornado. She concludes that respiratory infections many increase following tornadoes, and should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, not currently standard practice for community-acquired pneumonia.

Green, J. The authors write that disaster-related wounds contaminated with soil or vegetative matter should be monitored for mucormycosis.

Kearns, R. This article details how a mobile hospital was created with Hospital Preparedness Program support in Louisville when a local hospital was deemed a structural loss after a tornado.

Neblett Fanfair, R. The authors review data on 13 patients who developed necrotyzing cutaneous mucormycosis, a rare fungal infection, in addition to other injuries sustained form an F-5 tornado. The authors share risk factors, treatment strategies, and other relevant information that can help healthcare providers work with tornado survivors. Niederkrotenthaler, T. The authors analyzed tornado-related injuries seen at hospitals and risk factors for tornado injury, and screened for post-traumatic stress following a statewide tornado-emergency in Alabama in April The majority of injuries were not life-threatening; the most severe injuries affected the head and chest regions.

Porth, L. Missouri Hospital Association. This report describes response and recovery operations by several hospitals during the natural disasters in Missouri, with many implications for COOP planning. As little as 6 inches of floodwater can knock you off of your feet.

Stay aware of the heat and heat index. Drink plenty of fluids, stay indoors, and avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day. Check on friends and neighbors who may need help older adults, people with disabilities, people who are sick, or people with young children. Keep battery-powered lanterns and flashlights on hand. Don't use candles. Understand how to safely use generators, and never use generators indoors or in enclosed spaces. If you are outside, immediately seek shelter indoors.

Remain indoors. Designate a safe place in your home to gather away from windows, glass doors and skylights. Remember: "When the thunder roars, go indoors! In the event of an emergency, follow the instructions of authorities carefully. Emergency officials know how to best protect you and your loved ones. Consider learning first aid to help yourself and others in case of injury.

Designate a meeting place, and assemble a preparedness kit. The American Red Cross responds to more than 60, disasters every year. Visit the Red Cross website to learn more about how you can prepare and protect your home and your family from disaster in your region. Common Disasters Across the U.