This year, thousands of individuals in Southern California were impacted by the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire. The fires were the second and fourth most destructive in the state’s history.[1] In 2024, millions of individuals in the southeastern United States were impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These hurricanes made landfall less than two weeks apart, establishing a new record for the shortest interval between two significant hurricanes in Florida.[2] The Southern California wildfires and Hurricanes Helene and Milton exemplify the pattern of increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters attributed to a changing climate. Such climate-related disasters have profound implications for healthcare systems, underscoring the necessity for coordinated efforts between federal and state governments to ensure the continuity of healthcare services and access to medical care. As a result of the Southern California wildfires, over 700 people were evacuated from nursing homes and other care facilities.[3] In Florida alone, over 350 healthcare facilities were evacuated as a preventative measure against Hurricane Milton.[4] Hundreds of other healthcare facilities throughout the region faced evacuations, closures, and damage as result of the hurricanes. Preparedness and swift response measures at all levels of government are essential to safeguard lives in the face of natural disasters.Continue Reading The Role of Federal and State Governments in Maintaining Healthcare During Natural Disasters