A natural disaster is an extreme environmental event that results in loss of life and damage to property. It can also cause serious health problems. These events can be triggered by factors that are beyond human control, such as shifting tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, and undersea earthquakes. They can also be aggravated by human activities, including urbanization in vulnerable areas, poor land management, deforestation, and industrial development.
The most costly natural disasters in the United States are weather and climate events, with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, drought, wildfires, and blizzards accounting for most of the costs. Between 1980 and 2024, there were 483 weather/climate disaster events that cost more than $1 billion each.
During and after a natural disaster, people often have many different kinds of health needs, from medical care and housing to water, food, and sanitation systems. Many of these needs are directly caused by the disaster itself, such as injuries, displacement, and damage to infrastructure that makes it difficult to access health services or basic food supplies. Others are indirectly related, such as the increased risk of infectious diseases (e.g., cholera or malaria) that can result from people living without access to adequate water and sanitation services.
Some of these health needs are psychological, such as feelings of fear and anxiety or difficulty sleeping. People who are at risk of emotional distress should seek mental health support. Many people affected by a natural disaster need help recovering from the stress and upheaval they experience. These people may need special assistance from the community or the government, such as housing or jobs.