CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia, sits along the Elk River. A severe weather event could push the river over its banks and enclose the hospital, sealing off every exit, according to a Fathom flood-data simulation. CAMC spokesperson Dale Witte said the system has prepared by elevating electrical infrastructure and purchasing pumps. Daniel Chang/KFF Health News
As highlighted by CNN
Louisville, Tennessee – a new investigation explains that about 170 American hospitals are at serious risk of floods that could affect patient care, access to emergency departments, and potential evacuations. The conclusions are based on data from a private firm that specializes in flood modeling, and illustrate a situation that goes beyond the official flood maps created previously.
An example is Peninsula Hospital, located on the banks of a regional river. According to computer simulations, floodwaters could submerge the building up to 11 feet deep and effectively block access to the hospital from all approaches.
«My first feeling is a premonition of evil», – Aurora, watching the model of the river rising around the hospital. Her assessment aligns with the hospital being so close to the water, as if it were guarded only by a river levee.
Number of vulnerable health care facilities and the nature of the risk
According to this study, more than 170 hospitals scattered along the coast and inland have a significant flood risk, with many located outside the 100-year flood zone. Projections are often based on data from private companies that use LiDAR scanning and modeling from geological agencies to assess risks to buildings and properties ranging from tens of meters to several hectares.
«This is very troubling», – Caleb Dresser, a climate-change researcher and physician-recruiter. «If there isn’t information to understand that you’re at risk, how can you set priorities for this issue?»
Beyond official FEMA maps, private companies fill the gaps by running simulations of future floods. But many of these forecasts remain behind paywalls, complicating public planning and timely warnings to the public about the threat.
«People will die as a result of some decisions that are being made today», – Alice Hill. «We will be less prepared than we are now. And I believe that we were poorly prepared in the past»
It is also noted that flood risks are rising for various types of medical facilities – from large trauma centers to small rural hospitals and housing for the elderly. Some are located in regions with limited access to alternative hospitals, underscoring the need for effective flood readiness and rapid evacuations in emergencies.
«This reminds me of a situation where safety decisions do not align with real challenges», – Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California. «Imagine a medical decision when you’re not allowed to review 20% of a patient’s vital signs or test results»
In light of this, attention is growing to how floods affect the health care system – from large emergency centers to small facilities in remote regions and housing for the elderly. There is also emphasis on the need to upgrade flood forecasting tools at the national level and expand access to critically important data for planning patient protection and rapid response during emergencies.
Analysts estimate that more than 21 such facilities are considered “critically important” due to limited evacuation routes or the absence of nearby alternatives. Given climate change and stronger storms, experts are calling for a systematic response and more transparent use of flood data to improve the resilience of medical facilities across the country.
What needs to change next in the health care system
Experts emphasize that the need to rebuild infrastructure and adapt action plans is growing. It is necessary to modernize flood risk maps, make forecasts more accessible for public use, and secure funding to increase hospital resilience, especially in regions with elevated flood risk and limited access to alternative medical facilities.
Considering climate change and stronger storms, the systemic response should encompass not only building solutions but also operational evacuation protocols, transportation networks, and continuity of medical services during emergencies. Such actions will help reduce the impact of floods on patients and save lives where the risk is greatest.
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