### Study Reveals Hidden Death Toll of U.S. Tropical Cyclones

A recent study published Wednesday reveals a stark reality: the death toll from hurricanes and tropical storms is far higher than reported. While the catastrophic Hurricane Helene has already claimed at least 162 lives in the Southeast, new research suggests that the true impact of such storms extends much further, contributing to an alarming number of indirect deaths in the years following the disaster.

The study, which analyzed 501 tropical cyclones that struck the Atlantic and Gulf coasts between 1930 and 2015, estimates that each cyclone indirectly causes 7,000 to 11,000 additional deaths in the U.S. This suggests that the total number of fatalities linked to tropical storms could be between 3.6 million and 5.2 million since 1930.

Lead author Rachel Young, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California Berkeley, highlighted the unprecedented nature of these findings. The research indicates that a significant surge in mortality rates occurs after a storm, which has previously not been documented or associated with hurricanes.

Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, suicide, and sudden infant death syndrome are among the indirect causes of these excess deaths. The study's most shocking revelation is that about 25% of infant deaths and 15% of deaths among individuals aged 1 to 44 are related to tropical cyclones.

Solomon Hsiang, a professor of environmental social sciences at Stanford University and senior author of the study, emphasized the long-term impact of these storms. He noted that while official government statistics typically report about 24 direct deaths per storm, due to causes like drowning or trauma, the broader public health consequences are far more extensive.

In addition to the overall rise in mortality, the study found a stark disparity in the impact on different racial groups. Black individuals are three times more likely to die after a hurricane compared to white individuals. This reinforces concerns from many Black communities about the unequal treatment and hardships they face in the aftermath of natural disasters.

As the nation witnesses the immediate destruction left by Hurricane Helene, Hsiang warned that the true hardship might unfold over the coming decades, underscoring the need for better planning and adaptation strategies to mitigate these hidden long-term effects.