Climate Disasters Linked to Health Facility Closures in Vulnerable Communities

New research reveals that climate disasters like floods and wildfires have hidden, long-term public health consequences beyond physical destruction. A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found a strong link between severe climate events and the closure of hospitals and outpatient care facilities across more than 3,000 U.S. counties from 2000 to 2014.

These closures disproportionately affected counties with high poverty and racial segregation, exacerbating existing health inequities. While pharmacies remained largely unaffected, the findings highlight the need for public health preparedness and equity-focused disaster recovery strategies to ensure continued access to essential health services. Read the report here.