Understanding Hurricanes Disaster & the Impact of Climate Change Through our hurricanes and climate change initiative, Americares witnesses the harsh realities of climate change firsthand. We answer the call by actively responding to hurricane disasters around the world. When a Category 5 hurricane, with winds exceeding 157 mph, tears through unprepared communities, the human cost is immense, we’ve been on the ground after some of history’s worst storms, including Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Dorian. That’s why we’re constantly improving our disaster response to address the growing health threats caused by extreme weather. We stay with communities for months, even years, to help them rebuild stronger climate resilient health clinics and prepare for future disasters. Decades of experience responding to hurricanes and other extreme weather events have shown us that disaster preparedness saves lives. While hurricanes and other disasters dominate the news, it’s taking steps beforehand that builds stronger, more secure communities.