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Catastrophe and disaster mortality not accurately captured and quantified

Visibility360, PDF version to share

By Kate McCaffery | Nov. 6, 2024, 9:20 a.m.

The Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) is calling on insurers to monitor and analyze additional data to study the ramifications of natural disasters and their impact on long-term morbidity and mortality.

“Although natural disasters are typically viewed as property and casualty (P&C) insurance issues, some studies suggest their long-term health impacts may deserve greater attention from life and health insurers,” the firm’s researchers write in the note, Four considerations for mortality following natural disasters. “The potential lingering effects necessitate a holistic approach to assess direct and indirect mortality and morbidity associated with natural disasters.”

Substantial indirect mortality

They continue, saying studies suggest that natural disasters are associated with substantial indirect mortality that is not accurately captured and quantified. “Measuring the extended effects of catastrophes is challenging,” they concede. They also add that questions arise as to true correlation. Still, they say natural disasters are typically a P&C concern because the associated deaths generally do not significantly influence long-term mortality trends. “But some studies suggest the toll is more widespread.”

In tropical cyclones, for example, an average of 24 people will die per event, but indirect mortality may be closer to 7,000 per storm, they state, citing a recent study published in Nature science journal.

“Health impacts from these natural disasters may be underestimated.”

Mental health problems, contamination and disrupted access to medical care were all briefly mentioned as being causes of the indirect mortality figures. “99 per cent deaths associated with tropical cyclones occur more than 21 months later,” they add.

Mental health

The report looks at climate change saying life and health insurers have yet to experience a substantial documented impact from climate change, but the frequency and severity of climate events may alter this. It looks at the number of storms, at mental health, vulnerable populations and secondary impacts.

“No definitive finding is possible at this point,” they write. “As severe events become more common, accurate reporting and attribution is needed, combined with a more holistic approach toward assessing direct and indirect mortality and morbidity associated with natural disasters.”