Hurricanes: 5 Impacts on Your Health

Surprise!

Hurricane season is here. Which is really not much of a surprise. Especially if you live in Florida, like me, or anywhere on the coast — you're probably already getting prepared.

But here is a surprise — hurricanes can still affect you even if you live in a "land-locked" state. Yup. Here's why. Because as these hurricanes get stronger and stronger the storms travel further & further inland. And many of the storms still hold on to their power as they journey inland.

So no matter where you live you should be prepared. Even if just to protect your health. Because not only can a hurricane destroy property, but it can also take a huge toll on your health. 

Here are the 5 biggest impacts huge hurricanes can have on your health.

Waterborne Illness

Imagine this… Flood waters contaminate the drinking water supply. Emergency response officials shut off gas lines. So how do you boil water if you don't have electricity or natural gas? Scary place to be in, because the lack of clean water leads to waterborne illness — like diarrhea. Issues like that can be fatal to small children and the elderly. And in certain areas — like islands — contaminated water can also spread typhoid and even cholera.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

When the electricity goes out due to a storm… a lot of people turn on their gas generators. But if those suckers aren't vented correctly they can cause explosions, fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning. My advice… go solar.

Environmental Contaminants

Think about all the hazardous waste around you right now. Gasoline. Bleach. Battery acid. In a strong storm, all of that gets thrown around by winds or flood waters. And then you're living on top of it.

Mosquito Borne Illnesses

As storm waters recede, left behind will be countless pools of standing, stagnant water. (You know where this is going.) Those "pools" are the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. And those bugs can carry nasty illnesses like Zika, West Nile, and more.

Loss of Health Care

This one is the worst. If a storm hits so hard that it damages buildings… then the health care infrastructure of that area can no longer help people. Think about it. Doctors can't get to the hospital — because their homes are flooded too. The hospital has no water — so they can't treat anyone. The power's down — so nurses can't use their equipment. You see how this dominoes.

Look, boarding up windows and filling sandbags is 100% necessary. And always a good idea. But please, don't only focus on possessions or structures. After all, they are just things. But your health on the other hand can't be replaced. So make sure to look out for the things we talked about here. And make sure you have the tools in place to help protect your well-being too.

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