Health outcomes can occur through multiple pathways (see
Figure 1) including (1) hazards from exposure to storm
impact; (2) evacuation; (3) post-storm hazards from utility outages and sheltering in place in inadequate housing;
(4) exposure to secondary hazards including contaminated
drinking water, contact with contaminated floodwaters, and
mold and moisture in housing; (5) population displacement
and disruption of services; (6) mental health effects from
traumatic or stressful experiences during and after the storms
and (7) health and safety risks from clean-up and recovery
activities.