We need to prepare for flooding to get worse around the world

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-11-21 09:00

Australia; VIC

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Communities around the world need to be prepared for flooding events to be more common and severe, according to Australian researchers. In a special report, the researchers outline the common health risks people face when hit with a flood, with about 100,000 flood deaths reported around the world from 2000-2019. The researchers say beyond deaths during the flood, people face a long list of health risks from injuries and poisoning to infectious and mosquito-borne diseases and more long-term health complications from everything they're exposed to in the aftermath. With much of the world projected to see floods increase under climate change, the researchers outline ways communities can prepare for floods, prevent the worst of the health outcomes, and better communicate emergency alerts.