January 11 – Over the past two decades, extreme weather and record temperatures, fueled by climate change, have put more lives at risk. In the United States and around the world, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and heat waves have become more frequent, intense and deadly.
But for America’s most vulnerable populations, including older adults, these catastrophic weather events pose a heightened threat. Just look at Florida, where Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck back to back in October. Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm, hit the Gulf Coast on October 10. Months after landfall, residents are still struggling with the damage.
Although exact costs have yet to be determined, officials expect Milton’s damages will exceed $50 billion. It caused dozens of deaths, both from its direct impact and from the many tornadoes that formed in its wake. Among the hardest hit were residents of retirement homes and nursing homes. Florida is second only to Maine among states with the highest percentages of adults age 65 and older.
The increase in fatal natural disasters corresponds with a sharp increase in America’s aging population. According to Census Bureau estimates, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will rise from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million in 2050, representing nearly a quarter of the entire population.
Caring.com examined data from the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Census to determine how natural disasters impact seniors.
Extreme weather events put older adults at risk. They often face limited mobility, hearing loss and poor vision, making it much more difficult to evacuate quickly. Older adults may not have access to a social support system, reliable transportation, telephones, and the internet.
To complicate matters, many areas most vulnerable to natural disasters are popular with retirees. The intersection of climate risks and large concentrations of elderly people is no coincidence; The same factors that make these coastal locations with warmer climates attractive to retirees are the factors that make these places susceptible to extreme weather.
The increase in extreme weather combined with an aging population means more Americans will know an older American in emergency situations — or be in one themselves.
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The number of serious weather-related deaths is increasing
As weather conditions become more severe, so do their consequences. About 575 people die each year due to severe weather events, with fatalities peaking in 2021 and 2022, according to CDC data.
That figure accounts for fatalities from all types of weather, but extreme heat is the deadliest. According to the EPA, more than 14,000 Americans have died as a direct result of heat-related causes since 1979. 2021 and 2022 were two of the hottest years in recent memory, with several heat waves resulting in record numbers of heat-related deaths.
Extreme heat is a major concern for the elderly. This population is particularly vulnerable to heat as it interacts with pre-existing or underlying conditions. Since 1999, people of retirement age have been several times more likely to die from heat than their younger peers due to cardiovascular disease.
Hurricanes, western wildfires and a cold freeze in the South in 2021 have also contributed to the rising death toll, with some disasters causing more hardships for older adults than others. Hurricane Ian struck the Florida coast in September 2022, causing 120 fatalities, 2 in 3 of whom were 60 years or older, FEMA said.
Older adults also face multiple vulnerabilities during extreme weather events. For example, they are more likely to rely on specialized equipment, including ventilators or oxygen machines. A hurricane or flood that wipes out electricity in a region immediately puts the elderly at risk. They are also more susceptible to hypothermia, overheating and other temperature-related conditions. Evacuating to a safe place or avoiding dangerous areas can also be more challenging due to mobility issues. And that’s just the general population over 65 years old. For people with specific disabilities or health conditions, loss of access to medications or interruptions to healthcare can be catastrophic.
Historical health data also reveals racial disparities in heat-related deaths in the US. In a 2024 study published in the journal One Earth, researchers analyzing decades of data confirmed that extreme heat disproportionately affects non-Hispanic Black residents than non-Hispanic white individuals. which they attribute to systemic problems, including higher percentages of non-Hispanic black people living in heat islands.
Examining 2022, one of the hottest years on record, the paper’s authors suggest that the excess death rate among non-Hispanic black people is twice that of non-Hispanic white residents. This racial disparity increases the risk for older individuals who are non-Hispanic black.
{img title=”Some regions hit harder than others” src=”https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/extremeweatherelderlykmfXWfloridatopsthelistofmostatriskolderadultsJVWV.png” alt=”A table showing the five counties with the highest FEMA risk scores and the largest older adult populations as of 2022.” data-portal-copyright=”Caring.com” data-has-syndication-rights=”1″ data-focal-region=”x1:246,y1:140,x2:246,y2:140″ //
Some regions are hit harder than others
To determine which areas across the country are most at risk from the negative impacts of extreme weather, FEMA’s National Risk Index combines data on 18 natural hazards and community risk factors, creating a baseline risk measure for every county in the US.
Overall, coastal areas in the US – including Florida, California, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi – tend to score higher on FEMA’s risk index than inland areas. States west of Iowa and Missouri tend to be at greater risk than those on the eastern side of the country.
Florida is one of the most at-risk states in the country, with nearly every county ranked as “very high,” “relatively high” or “relatively moderate” at risk. Of the top 10 riskiest counties based on FEMA scores, nine are in Florida, and five of those counties have a population of at least a third over age 65.
Out of state, the highest-risk counties include Brunswick County, North Carolina; Beaufort County, South Carolina; Cape May County, New Jersey; and Coos County, Oregon.
Older adults and their caregivers can take preventative measures to avoid the worst when extreme weather strikes. For those who live in areas prone to tornadoes, floods and hurricanes, setting up phone trees or other emergency contact systems with neighbors and loved ones can help keep older adults on the radar of those who can come to their aid. Check-ins during an emergency, evacuation checklists, medication for at least a month, extra batteries and medical equipment can also increase resilience in the event of an emergency.
The Red Cross recommends keeping an updated list of medical conditions, medications, allergies and emergency contacts. It is critical that older adults learn how their specific medical conditions can be exacerbated by winter conditions. For example, diabetes and thyroid problems can make it even more difficult to regulate body temperature.
Being able to rely on your skills in the event of an emergency can help you build trust. Take the time to learn basic first aid skills and remember two ways to evacuate each room in case a fire blocks the exits.
As the winter months approach, even non-emergency conditions can pose risks to older adults. Ice and snow can hinder access to critical facilities, so ensure entrances, stairs and ramps are regularly ice-free and dry. Older people and those around them need to know the signs of hypothermia, including pale skin and slurred speech, and how to maintain indoor warmth in the event of a power outage. Using the generator safely and closing off unused rooms are two places to start.
With extreme weather forecasts getting worse, now is the time to put an action plan in place.
Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.
This story originally appeared on Caring.com and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
