Health Care Concerns After a Disaster FREE

Janet M. Torpy, MD

JAMA. 2013;310(5):550. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.3976.

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Disasters, whether natural or not, can occur at any time. Disasters often cause deaths and can injure hundreds or thousands of individuals in a short amount of time.

Injury, illness, and death can also occur in the aftermath of a disaster because normal services (like water, electricity, gas, communication systems, sewage treatment, and hospitals and other health care services, including emergency response teams) may be partially or completely disrupted.

Even in the face of the best planning, plans and systems can fail. You can take steps to protect yourself and your family in the event of a disaster. Preparing ahead of time may save your life if you have only a few minutes to evacuate your home or business. Knowing what to do after a disaster can help keep you safe and healthy even in the face of extreme hardship.