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Major floods that accompany hurricanes also threaten the health of children, families and the elderly, and they are their own disaster. Experts expect major public-health emergencies, environmental illnesses, and outbreaks will only intensify in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Communicable respiratory and gastrointestinal disease can spread amid the breakdown in water sanitation. And stagnant water is ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus and other diseases, in the hot and humid Texas environment.

Even though the hurricane left Houston and the surrounding regions destroyed, the devastating consequences are exponentially far reaching and health disasters are lurking around the corner. Sadly, there are a wealth of health problems to come, and they often affect the most vulnerable people.