Guides
Health after a hurricane: the risks in the days after the storm
Protecting your health after a hurricane matters because the risks last for days after the storm: carbon monoxide from generators, injuries during cleanup, contaminated water and food, mold, and leptospirosis from floodwater. If anyone at home has a headache, dizziness or confusion while a generator is running, get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
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Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Headache, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain or confusion with a generator or gas stove running: get outside and call 911
- Someone who won’t wake up or has lost consciousness
- A deep wound, or bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure
- Fever after being in floodwater
- Shortness of breath, chest pain or signs of a stroke
Help lines
What happens after a hurricane? The health risks
According to the National Hurricane Center, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking on September 10, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October. Hurricane María made landfall near Yabucoa on September 20, 2017. After Hurricane Fiona in 2022, Puerto Rico reported 156 leptospirosis cases in 15 weeks, about 3.6 times as many cases per week as before the storm, according to the CDC.
Many health problems arrive after the storm: without power, around floodwater and during cleanup. The risks the CDC describes are carbon monoxide, wounds, contaminated water and food, downed power lines, mosquitoes and stress; mold and leptospirosis come with flooding. To get your medicines ready, or refill them if the storm left you without them, read medications for a hurricane.
Health after a hurricane: carbon monoxide from generators
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. According to the CDC, the symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion, often described as flu-like. People who are asleep or have been drinking can die before they notice symptoms.
If you suspect carbon monoxide, get everyone outside into fresh air and call [911](tel:911). Don’t go back in until you are told it is safe.
- Never use a generator inside your home, an enclosed carport or a garage.
- Keep it outside, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
- Don’t use camp stoves, charcoal or gasoline-powered equipment indoors.
- Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the bedrooms. If it beeps, leave the house right away and call 911.
Floodwater, wounds and tetanus
According to the CDC, floodwater can contain germs, dangerous chemicals, sewage, animals and downed power lines. Don’t walk or drive through flooded roads. Swollen rivers and streams can also spread leptospirosis: if you get a fever in the weeks after being in that water, get seen in person that same day.
Injuries are common during cleanup. The CDC advises getting first aid quickly for small wounds to help them heal and prevent infection: wash them with clean water and soap and cover them. According to the CDC, after a dirty wound or a puncture you get a tetanus booster if your last shot was 5 or more years ago; the shot is given in person. Read about cuts and wounds.
Water, food and mold
According to the CDC:
- Water: according to the CDC, bottled, boiled or treated water is safe for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. Follow boil-water advisories.
- Food: throw away food that touched flood or storm water, and refrigerated food that lost its cold. The CDC warns that unsafe food can make you sick even if it looks, smells and tastes normal.
- Mold: according to the CDC, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes or a skin rash, and it is more serious if you have asthma, a mold allergy or a weakened immune system. Clean and dry your home fully within 24 to 48 hours. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners: it makes a poisonous gas. More in mold and health.
Power lines, candles and mosquitoes after the hurricane
According to the CDC:
- Power lines: stay clear of downed lines and report them to the power company. If a wet appliance is still plugged in, turn off the power at the main breaker and have an electrician check it before you use it.
- No power: use flashlights instead of candles. If you must use candles, keep them away from anything that can burn and never leave them unattended.
- Mosquitoes: use insect repellent with DEET or picaridin, and wear long sleeves, long pants and socks outdoors. In Puerto Rico, mosquitoes spread dengue.
- Heat: without power or fans, heat makes people sick too, especially older adults and children. Know the signs of heat illness.
Stress after the storm
If you feel anxious, sad or can’t sleep after a disaster, you are not alone. SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline answers calls and texts at 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish). If you are in crisis, call Línea PAS or 988, listed on this page.
Doctor online 24/7 after a hurricane
When roads are hard to travel and the problem isn’t an emergency, a video visit can save you the trip. Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, a Puerto Rico–licensed general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, can see you by video: a small wound you want checked, cough or congestion from mold, diarrhea after questionable food or water, or managing your blood pressure or diabetes when your routine has been disrupted.
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. Medicines lost, soaked or run out after the storm? See prescription refills. This is virtual urgent care for problems that are not emergencies.
You need a working internet connection. A doctor visit has the same price for every age, with no membership; your card is charged when you request it, with a full refund if the clinic can’t see you. Doctor online 24/7: video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away. Every day, any time (Puerto Rico time). We send you a secure video link that works on your phone, tablet or computer. For patients under 21, a parent or legal guardian stays on camera with photo ID. Book your visit.
When to go to the ER
With any of these signs, call 911 or go to an emergency room. See when to go to the ER.
- Headache, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, chest pain or confusion with a generator or gas stove running: get outside and call 911
- Someone who won’t wake up or has lost consciousness
- A deep wound, or bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure
- Fever after being in floodwater
- Shortness of breath, chest pain or signs of a stroke
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to your health after a hurricane?
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
How far from the house should a generator be?
Do I need a tetanus shot if I cut myself during cleanup?
Can I have a video visit during a power outage?
What if my medicines ran out after the hurricane?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-02 · Updated: 2026-10-11
Sources (7)
- Tropical cyclone climatology (National Hurricane Center, NOAA) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Tropical cyclone report: Hurricane Maria (National Hurricane Center, NOAA) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning basics (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Staying safe after a hurricane or other tropical storm (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-09)
- Mold and your health (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Tetanus: clinical guidance, wound management (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Leptospirosis outbreak in aftermath of Hurricane Fiona — Puerto Rico, 2022 (CDC MMWR 73(35)) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-09)