This resource has been factchecked by policy experts, using the latest scientific research. Find all our sources linked below.
More frequent and severe storms
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, though storms rage outside these dates too. Peak activity happens between mid-August and late October. During an average season, seven hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean, and approximately two of these make landfall in the U.S. yearly. But climate change is wreaking havoc on what an “average” season means. Warmer air holds more moisture, which means hurricanes are now more intense and slower moving. This gives them ample time to be maximally destructive, including dumping damaging rains.
Estimates vary widely about just how many more extremely dangerous Category 4 and 5 hurricanes can be expected by the late 21st century. Globally, some anticipate an increase of about 10–20%, while in the Atlantic, there are projections that show an over 300% increase of these damaging storms. While scientists currently don’t predict a marked change in the number of hurricanes overall, one thing is abundantly clear: storm intensity and severity will continue to increase.
This will affect human health in a host of ways, both short- and long-term. Children are uniquely vulnerable because they’re dependent on adults for safety, more at risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals in floodwater, and especially traumatized by the disruption of storms. The elderly and disabled, unhoused individuals, and people with preexisting chronic conditions are also vulnerable during and after hurricanes.
Direct health impacts of hurricanes
Two key threats of hurricanes are storm surge, the abnormal rise in seawater level caused by a storm over and above the usual tide, and freshwater flooding, which happens when heavy rainfall causes river levels to rise inland, away from the coast.
Both storm surge and freshwater flooding can lead to drowning and injury. Historically, storm surge has been the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths. However, freshwater flooding accounted for about 65% of deaths related to hurricanes between 2017 and 2021, when there were 271 hurricane-related fatalities in the contiguous U.S. The toll would have been higher if the considerable impact of 2017’s Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico were included.
Maternal care can also be impacted: In 2024, catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene washed out entire mountains, neighborhoods, and roads, and all pregnant women over 37 weeks were told to evacuate western North Carolina.
As climate change accelerates sea-level rise and changes precipitation patterns, the threat of freshwater flooding and storm surge may increase in the future. High winds can also cause falling trees, downed power lines, and dangerous debris, all of which can lead to injury and death.
Indirect health impacts of hurricanes
Hurricanes can also pose serious indirect health impacts, many of which occur after a storm has passed.
If a strong storm knocks out power, for example, this can result in a variety of health harms, from hypothermia due to lack of heat to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators or gas grills used without proper ventilation. Downed power lines may cause electrocution or fires. Cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, can increase after natural disasters, and storms may disrupt health care infrastructure, making it harder to access care and medications. For people seeking urgent care, vehicle accidents are more likely due to unsafe driving conditions. After a home floods, residents face the risk of mold exposure. And extreme weather events can also cause or exacerbate mental health concerns.
Long-lasting effects
Robust data from Hurricane Katrina and other storms shows that health impacts may last years after a storm. A decade after Katrina, researchers at Tulane University documented a threefold increase in heart attacks among those who lived through it. About 10% of children who directly experienced Katrina showed significant emotional disturbance, and the prevalence of these challenges remained high for at least 18–27 months. One study of children whose mothers were pregnant during Hurricane Sandy found higher rates of depressive, anxiety, and behavioral disorders during their preschool years.
Displacement from a storm is a unique long-term impact. Hurricane damage to homes and communities can lead to evacuations and homelessness. In 2017, which included major hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. were displaced. People forced to leave their homes after a hurricane, possibly without the financial means to relocate, are more vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Hurricanes and health justice
Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately harmed when hurricanes hit.
These communities may lack resilient infrastructure, disaster alerts in multiple languages, have less capacity and fewer resources to evacuate or relocate, and be less able to afford flood insurance. During recovery periods post-storm, federal disaster aid is often unevenly allocated to wealthy, white communities.
Take action
Communities can take steps to prepare for and stay safe during and after hurricanes. But it’s critical that our elected officials reduce further climate warming that leads to hurricanes. Extreme weather caused by climate change is touching every facet of our lives. In 2024, 41% of people in the U.S. experienced extreme weather climate disasters, including storms, but also fires, rainfall, and drought.
That’s why Moms Clean Air Force has denounced the repeal of the Endangerment Finding, the legal foundation for EPA’s regulation of climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions.
Join us in advocating for equitable policies that will cut climate pollution and help build our communities’ resilience in a chaotic climate.
Learn more about Moms’ work on extreme weather.
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Updated: June 2026