Wed Oct 02 15:18:17 UTC 2024: ## Hurricanes: A Silent Killer, Hundreds of Times Deadlier Than Previously Thought

A groundbreaking study published in Nature has revealed a chilling truth: hurricanes in the United States are far deadlier than previously estimated, causing hundreds of times more deaths in the long term than the government’s immediate fatality count.

The research, conducted by Stanford University and University of California Berkeley, found that each hurricane contributes to an average of 7,000 to 11,000 deaths over a 15-year period, a staggering number compared to the average 24 direct deaths officially reported. This excess mortality, attributed to factors such as stress, environmental changes, and healthcare access issues, creates a “death bump” that extends for years after the storm.

“The doctor can’t possibly know that a hurricane contributed to the illness,” explains climate scientist Andrew Dessler, “You can only see it in a statistical analysis like this.”

The researchers found that these “death bumps” persist for 15 years, slowly claiming lives as people succumb to health issues exacerbated by the storm’s impact. This translates to an estimated 55,000 to 88,000 excess deaths annually, totaling over 3.6 to 5.2 million deaths over the 85 years studied.

This makes hurricanes a greater threat to American lives than car accidents or all of the nation’s wars combined.

“These storms are accelerating people’s deaths,” said lead researcher Solomon Hsiang, highlighting the devastating long-term consequences of these natural disasters.

The study also points to a concerning trend of increasing hurricane-related deaths, particularly due to population growth. The researchers emphasize the urgent need to acknowledge the true public health threat posed by hurricanes, particularly in the context of climate change, which is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of these storms.

“It’s clear that humanity is very vulnerable to weather shocks,” concluded Dessler, emphasizing the crucial need to adapt and prepare for the growing threat of extreme weather events.

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