In this summary, we assess the impact of environmental disasters and extreme weather events on health, housing stability, and economic well-being and examine disparities in outcomes by disability status.

Why This Matters

People with disabilities are at particular risk for adverse health and economic outcomes during and after extreme weather events and disasters, but their needs are not always considered in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. As federal policies for disaster response change, it is vital to monitor the impacts of disasters and extreme weather on disabled people over time, identify strategies to mitigate negative impacts on their health and well-being, and improve their outcomes during disaster recovery.

What We Found

We find that disabled adults who were exposed to environmental disasters and extreme weather events in 2023 were more likely than nondisabled adults to experience negative health impacts and to have increased difficulty meeting basic needs.

How We Did It

Our analysis draws on December 2023 data from the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, a nationally representative survey of adults ages 18 to 64. We estimated the share of adults who reported living in a community that experienced any of the following events in 2023: a tornado, hurricane, other severe storm, or flooding; an extreme heat wave; a wildfire; or a wildfire smoke event. We then examined differences in self-reported impacts of severe storms and extreme heat waves among adults with and without disabilities.