In the aftermath of two catastrophic hurricanes, Milton and Helene, the southern U.S. is grappling with widespread destruction, power outages and mounting health concerns.
Hurricane Milton tore through Florida on Wednesday evening, compounding the devastation caused just weeks earlier by Hurricane Helene. The region is now grappling with widespread power outages, contaminated water and a severe shortage of medical supplies, all posing significant threats to public health.
Storm surges from Hurricane Milton remain a major concern in many parts of Florida, with tropical storm warnings still in effect along much of the east-central coast. Flooding is expected to worsen as rivers rise and saturated ground struggles to absorb more water.
“First and foremost is water risks. And more individuals will sadly pass away after the storm due to drowning than actually before it before the storms,” said Scott Rivkees, a professor at the Brown School of Public Health in Providence, R.I.
“The things that we’ll worry about over the next week is making sure that individuals don’t put themselves at risk in terms of drowning, risk of electrocution, risk of wounds, and making sure that individuals avoid contaminated water, both in terms of local exposure and in terms of drinking,” he told Global News.
Echoing those concerns, the Florida Department of Health on Tuesday issued an advisory warning residents to avoid floodwaters to prevent exposure to Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially life-threatening bacteria that lives in water.
“Vibrio bacteria, commonly found in warm coastal waters, can cause illness when ingested or when open wounds are exposed to contaminated water,” the department stated. “After heavy rainfall and flooding, the concentration of these bacteria may rise, particularly in brackish and saltwater environments.”
It’s not just the immediate floodwaters and short-term effects that pose a risk.
Studies warn that after hurricanes pass, people can experience long-lasting health issues, including respiratory illnesses, worsening of chronic conditions, pregnancy complications, and increased rates of PTSD, depression and anxiety.
What are the health risks of floodwater?
Floodwater can harbour a variety of contaminants, including bacteria, chemicals, oil, petrochemicals, and sewage, all of which pose serious health risks.
“One of the things we also worry about in terms of brackish areas, there’s a very aggressive bacteria… so if an individual goes into the water, particularly with open wounds or if they’re immunocompromised, it puts them also especially at risk of different kinds of skin infections,” Rivkees said.
“So if somebody has been in the water and has a wound and they started seeing redness around that they should get immediate medical attention for that.”
There is also an increased risk of allergies and asthma due to standing water in the area. Damp buildings and soggy items can promote the growth of mold and bacteria, which can trigger allergic reactions and lead to asthma development or exacerbation.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has warned that mold can grow in unexpected places after a flood and won’t simply disappear as the water dries. It can thrive inside furniture or under carpets, making it difficult to detect.
To address this risk, the foundation recommends wearing a mask when returning to your home after a flood, disposing of any items that have been flooded and considering hiring professional cleaners for the cleanup process.
Besides mold and bacteria, floodwater presents another significant risk, especially in Florida. Rivkees warned that it can lead to an increase in mosquitoes and may invite poisonous snakes into your home or yard.
“When these storms come through, it disrupts the natural habitat. There are a number of poisonous snakes in Florida. Water moccasins are something that we worry about. They will go into brush piles, so when individuals are clearing brush, removing debris, this is something they have to be very conscious about,” he said.
Contaminated drinking water
After a hurricane, floodwaters often mix with sewage, agricultural runoff and industrial waste. This contamination can lead to the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites in the water supply, making it unsafe to drink, FEMA stated on its website.
This contaminated water can cause a variety of health problems, such as gastroenteritis, diarrhea and vomiting, respiratory diseases, hepatitis, dysentery and anemia, it warned.
And during a hurricane, it can also damage water treatment plans, allowing contaminants to enter the drinking water supply, Rivkees warned. This, combined with the fact that access to clean drinking water is often severely restricted after a hurricane due to damaged infrastructure, can force people to rely on unsafe sources, further increasing the risk of illness.
“This is why it’s recommended that individuals make sure that they have at least a gallon of water stored per individual per day going into the storm,” he said.
“Some cities will proactively turn off the water supply. So it’s very important to listen to what the city officials are saying about water drinking. Some cities will say it’s safe to drink and other cities will issue a boil water advisory for that.”
Electrocution hazard
Another health risk linked with hurricanes involves downed power lines, Rivkees said.
After Hurricane Milton struck Florida Wednesday evening, over three million people were left without power due to thousands of downed power lines.
Power lines hidden in floodwaters can pose a serious electrocution hazard, as standing water may become electrically charged from submerged fallen lines or underground lines that are still live, Rivkees said. This creates a significant risk for anyone who comes into contact with the water.
“Even if the power is off, some people will have solar power generation. And even though the main feeds from power stations may be off, you can actually get feeds coming from home-generation solar panel into water contributing to electrocution risk as well,” he added.
Hurricanes also have long-term health impacts that persist even after the storm has passed.
For example, Rivkees explained that hurricanes can disrupt people’s routine medical care, especially for those with chronic conditions.
Many individuals may be unable to keep their regular doctor’s appointments and may struggle to access necessary medications.
“And then in terms of the mental health consequence, people’s lives are disrupted here and some families will suffer horrible tragedies. Schools will be disrupted. Work will be disrupted. Some people will lose their homes, and their possessions, and there’ll be a mental health toll that we can actually see after these storms,” he said.