For some disasters like hurricanes, what occurs before the storm can be critical for health and safety. Stressors may include deciding whether to evacuate, finding somewhere to go if evacuating, and separation from family members. Uncertainty before the event can threaten one's sense of safety.

Evacuation-Related Stressors

Actual life-threatening events include incidents that could result in the death of a hurricane victim, such as being hit by a flying object during the storm.

Actual Life-Threatening Events During Hurricanes

Loss and disruption includes after effects of a hurricane, such as not being able to return home due to restrictions (disruption) or no longer having a physical home to return to (loss).

Loss and Disruption Events After Hurricanes

An individual feeling that they are in danger or thinking that they may die during a hurricane, even if there was no bodily harm.

Perceived Life Threat During Hurricanes

Hurricane-related experiences that may be a source of psychological distress, and subsequently health risks, for mothers can be divided into categories based on when they occur; before, during, or after the storm:
- Evacuation-related stressors (before)
- Actual life-threatening events (during)
- Perceived life threat (during)
- Loss and disruption events (after)


Cleveland State University

Mothers have been found to be an especially emotionally vulnerable population during extreme weather events, particularly in the circumstances of hurricanes due to the addition of evacuation-related stressors and parental responsibilities. Emotional/psychological distress can increase the likelihood of engaging in behaviors that increase health risk.

Hurricane Exposure and Mothers' Health Risk Behaviors

La Greca, A. M., Brodar, K. E., Tarlow, N., &amp; Burdette, E. (2022). Evacuation- and hurricane-related experiences, emotional distress, and their associations with mothers’ health risk behaviors. Health Psychology, 41(7), 443–454. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001202 

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