The Individual and Synergistic Impacts of Windstorms and Power Outages on Injury ED Visits in New York State

The authors used New York State Department of Health data to identify how emergency department (ED) visits and lengths of stays were affected by wind strength, thunderstorms, or power outages. The study found that there was a significant increase in ED visits, length of stay, and cost during wind events and power failures. Healthcare emergency planners can use these results to plan for natural disasters and utility outages in their communities based on the impact to their facilities.