But these also overlap with health concerns in many ways.įlooding can strain health services due to damaged infrastructure, loss of health professionals and access to medicine, which could delay care or treatment for those who need it. When disasters like floods strike, there is a lot of focus on economic impact and property damage, as well as human casualties. But the risks can range from injuries, hypothermia and animal bites to infectious diseases, undernutrition and mental health problems. Disaster responders, healthcare professionals and critical service providers can also be affected.ĭrowning is often top of mind when it comes to health risks of flooding. The flood’s characteristics also play into this, whether it’s flash floods, coastal floods, riverine floods, or permanent floods for low-lying areas.įloods can directly and indirectly affect human health in both the short and long term. Additionally, it’s not just communities who have experienced flooding whose health is at risk. Geography, population size and density as well as levels of preparedness and resilience are part of it. The kinds of health risks any given community might experience, the severity of them, and just how vulnerable they might be can differ depending on various factors. The health impacts of disasters like flooding are complex and cascading, and can impact any one person or population simultaneously.
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