6 ways to weather a natural disaster
You can't stop them, but you might be able to plan for them.
Jan, 2026
1 of 7
Slide 1
Summer ought to be the season for easy, breezy beach vacations and evenings spent beside a bonfire, but sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. The year's warmer months are also peak time for some natural disasters, like hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes, all threatening to stamp out your summer fun.
Worldwide, there were 432 natural disasters in 2021. Not only do these events threaten to destroy property—at times uprooting entire communities—they also pose a risk to your health, even after the dust has settled.
Of course, unexpected emergencies happen, but some approaching disasters can be planned for. Here are the biggest disaster-related dangers, plus proven ways to avoid them.
Written byTaylor Lupo.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 2021 Disasters in numbers. April 22 + 22
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 2021 Disasters in numbers. April 22, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Floods. Last updated December 9, 2021.
- Ready.gov/FEMA. Be Prepared for a Flood. March 2018.
- American Red Cross. Flood Safety. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Natural Disasters and Severe Weather: Infectious Disease After a Disaster. Page last reviewed January 29, 2019.
- Ready.gov. Landslides and Debris Flow. Last updated April 11, 2022.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Landslide Hazards. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- American Red Cross. Landslide Safety. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Build a Kit. Last updated May 10, 2022.
- American Red Cross. Survival Kit Supplies. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Hurricanes. Last updated April 1, 2022.
- National Weather Service/NOAA. Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- American Red Cross. Hurricane Safety. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Thunderstorms & Lightning. Last updated June 23, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Tornadoes. Last updated February 18, 2022.
- American Red Cross. Tornado Safety. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- American Red Cross. Wildfire Safety. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Wildfires. Last updated May 31, 2022.
- Congressional Research Service. Wildfire Statistics. Updated November 4, 2022.
- Ready.gov. Earthquakes. Last updated October 28, 2022.
- American Red Cross. Earthquake Safety. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- U.S. Department of Labor/OSHA. Earthquakes Preparedness and Response. Accessed November 15, 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Rhabdomyolysis. Reviewed July 27, 2021.
Recommended for you
How can I be more consistent?