The Impact of Disasters

Disasters have a ripple effect. There are typically immediate effects followed by long-term effects. Some disasters that may have effects that linger for years after the initial event has occurred.

Disaster can have both direct and indirect effects on the population and health care systems.

 

Direct Effects
Indirect Effects

  • Acute/Chronic Illness
  • Communicable diseases
  • Damage to hospitals/clinics
  • Death
  • Death/illness of healthcare personnel
  • Displacement/Evacuation
  • Emotional Injury
  • Environmental contamination
  • Inability to deliver healthcare services
  • Physical Injury
  • Psychological Injury
  • Damage to infrastructure
  • Damage to living structures
  • Disruption of communications
  • Disruption of education
  • Disruption of utilities
  • Food insecurity
  • Limited access to health services
  • Loss of community
  • Loss of employment, business
  • Mental health crises
  • Supply chain disruption



Are there any other direct or indirect effects of disasters that you can think of?

Written by Dennis Ren

Last updated: 5/30/2025

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