(introduction...)

The adverse environmental conditions that may accompany natural disasters vary according to disaster type. Table 1 presents probable concomitants to the most common disasters.

Table 2 presents the relative severity of the effects of some common disasters on the environment. These disasters cause considerable deterioration of environmental conditions. Partial or total disruption of environmental health services is to be expected, particularly of the lifeline services, such as water systems, food production and distribution, transportation, and power. Increased population density results from the effects of disaster listed in table 2. This, in turn, disrupts normal community life by causing health-related conditions to worsen and increasing the need for environmental health services.