Know the Risks & Types of Injuries During a Natural Disaster
This time of year, natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding, snow storms, and wildfires increase in occurrence and strength. With this in mind, we have decided to list the best known natural disasters and common types of injuries that often happen as a result.
If you have been hurt as a result of a natural disaster, be sure to contact an attorney in your area as soon as possible. Florida law only gives victims four years to file a claim after an accident.
Hurricanes
A hurricane is a storm with violent winds, which forms over tropical or subtropical waters. When a storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it’s called a hurricane. The hurricane wind scale has a 1 to 5 rating, based on the sustained winds. The higher the rating, (or category), the more dangerous the hurricane is and the more likely it is that damage to property in the area of the hurricane will occur.
Risks and Injuries
The most common risks and injuries that occur during and following a hurricane include:
- Water-borne infections — Flood water will likely be heavily contaminated by sewage and toxic chemicals.
- Wound infections — Open wounds can become infected by the dirty water, and it’s easy to cut yourself on sharp objects hidden by the water.
- Injuries — Injuries as a result of the hurricane often include orthopedic injuries, cuts and wounds from fallen trees, and hypothermia. Car accidents can also occur during hurricane evacuation.
- Mosquito-borne infections — After a hurricane has passed an area, pools of stagnant water will breed mosquitos, increasing West Nile disease in certain areas.
Tornados
A tornado is a mobile, extremely destructive vortex of violently rotating winds in the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud which advances beneath a storm system. Characterized by a long, funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris, it takes shape and moves over land, often in the Midwest.
The severity of a tornado is measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates the damage from a tornado on six levels, from minor (EF0) to catastrophic (EF5). The smallest tornadoes (EF1) have hurricane-force winds (EF1) while the largest (EF5) have devastating 300 mph winds that can sweep homes right off their foundations and fling cars across great spaces. EF5 tornadoes are extremely rare, but do occur.
Risks and Injuries
The most common risks and injuries that occur during and directly following a tornado include:
- Injuries — A range of injuries, such as severe cuts and bruises, may occur from debris hurled at deadly speeds.
- Broken bones and other serious injuries — Broken bones may occur if you’re caught outside when a tornado hits and are either upheaved in your automobile or hit by a moving object.
- Post-traumatic infection — This is likely exacerbated by inappropriate first aid or by not seeking appropriate care for injuries from a tornado.
Blizzards
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility. Large amounts of snow or blowing snow and wind combine to form a blizzard, with winds over 35 mph, and visibility of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours).
Risks and Injuries
The most common risks and injuries that occur during and directly following a blizzard include:
- Frostbite — This occurs as a result of wind chill, which can drop to -60 F.
- Hypothermia — This occurs as a result of the wind chill and drop in temperature during the storm.
- Injuries — A range of injuries can result from low visibility, normally occurring when people attempt to drive during a storm.
Earthquakes
An earthquake is a sudden release of energy in the earth’s crust or upper mantle, usually caused by movement along a fault plane or by volcanic activity and resulting in the generation of seismic waves, which can be extremely destructive. Earthquakes have a magnitude which ranges between 2.5 up to 8 or, rarely, even higher. When an earthquake has a magnitude of 6 or higher, it’s considered extremely destructive.
Risks and Injuries
The most common risks and injuries that occur during and directly following an earthquake include:
- Injuries due to falling objects — Earthquakes often cause large objects, like cabinets, mirrors, and televisions to fall over, resulting in a range of bodily injuries.
- Injuries due to building damage — If a building is damaged during an earthquake, debris and other objects may fall on to a person causing bodily harm.
- Lacerations
- Fractures — Including spinal, pelvic, rib, and extremities
- Head trauma
Floods
A flood can be defined as an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land.
Risks and Injuries
The most common risks and injuries that occur during and directly following a flood include:
- Vector-borne diseases — This can include malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and haemorrhagic fever.
- Water-borne infections
- Wound infections
- Injuries — Injuries as a result of a flood range, but often include orthopedic injuries, and hypothermia.
- Mosquito-borne infections — West Nile Fever is common after a flood passes and stagnant water remains.
Heat Waves
A heat wave is defined as a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather, which can be accompanied by high humidity, particularly in oceanic climates. Temperatures of heat waves vary, as they are measured in relation to the usual weather patterns of that specific area.
Risks and Injuries
The most common risks and injuries that occur during and directly following a heat wave include:
- Heat edema — Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles and is generally secondary to increased aldosterone secretion, which enhances water retention. When combined with peripheral vasodilation and venous stasis, the excess fluid accumulates in the dependent areas of the extremities.
- Heat rash — This rash is accompanied by acute inflammation and blocked sweat ducts.
- Heat cramps — Painful, often severe, involuntary spasms of the large muscle groups used in strenuous exercise. Heat cramps tend to occur after intense exertion. They usually develop in people performing heavy exercise while sweating profusely and not replenishing lost fluids.
- Heat exhaustion — Considered by experts to be the forerunner of heat stroke (hyperthermia). It may resemble heat stroke, with the difference being that the neurologic function remains intact. Heat exhaustion is marked by excessive dehydration and electrolyte depletion. Symptoms may include diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, tachycardia, malaise and myalgia.
- Other injuries due to overheating — Heat waves can and do cause roads and highways to buckle and melt, water lines to burst, and power transformers to detonate, causing fires and leading to various injuries.
Wildfires
A wildfire can be defined as a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush. Wildfires can be started by campfires being left unattended, to burning debris, to lightning and more.
- Skin irritations — Recent fires may have deposited large amounts of ash on indoor and outdoor surfaces in areas near the fires. This can cause irritation to the skin, nose, and throat and may cause coughing. Ash and dust (particularly from burned buildings) may contain toxic and cancer causing chemicals including asbestos, arsenic and lead.
- Injuries from debris — Broken glass, exposed electrical wires, nails, wood, metal, plastics, and other solid objects commonly found in areas of fire damage can cause puncture wounds, cuts, electrical injuries and burns from smoldering materials.
- Burns and other injuries from fire — Be sure to evacuate quickly so that you and your family are not injured by the fire.
- Burns or other injuries from electricity — Electrical hazards need to be repaired. Avoid downed or damaged electrical lines.
- Rashes or infections — Water damage to building materials and personal belongings can release potentially hazardous chemicals that could cause rashes, infections, or exposures to toxic substances.
What to Do When You Need Help
Natural disaster accident claims can be complicated as they can involve many other parties.
An experienced natural disaster accident attorney will thoroughly investigate the details of your accident, obtain any applicable reports, obtain your medical records, and do everything possible to build a solid case in your favor.
Contact an experienced accident lawyer as soon as possible if you are hurt in a natural disaster. Florida law only gives victims four years to file a claim after an accident.
