As Hurricane Harvey bore down on the United States, President Trump pledged to unleash “the full force of government” to assist the victims of the storm. The White House later released a statement outlining the administration’s plan to make federal funds available to affected individuals, state and local governments, and some nonprofit organizations to meet the demands of the emergency. In the ensuing days, as rain and floodwaters have inundated Texas, Americans have responded generously, adding to the resources available to Harvey’s victims. Celebrities and businesses have contributed millions to relief efforts, airlines have offered miles in exchange for disaster relief donations, and everyday citizens continue to give their time and money to help those whose lives were shaken by the hurricane.

The national turmoil we are witnessing [in the United States] is not just a crisis of institutions, or politics, or a society at a crossroads. It is also a crisis of health.

Hate, such as the kind we witnessed in Charlottesville, Virginia, is like a disease, spreading among populations, undermining health in a manner eerily similar to that of a pathogen. When a society is infected by hate, it is not hard to see how it can affect our bodies and minds.

The National Weather Service has called Hurricane Harvey "unprecedented;" Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called it "one of the largest disasters America has ever faced." Yet for all that is shocking and unique about Harvey, there is also a familiarity to it. 

Harvey is no longer classified as a hurricane, but the destruction caused by the storm continues to unfold. In recent days, parts of Houston, Texas have been hit with as many as 30 inches of rain. Nearby cities and towns have been overwhelmed by floodwaters, as swollen lakes and rivers have spilled into surrounding communities. As many as six people have died because of Harvey — that figure is expected to rise — and officials say that over 30,000 people may need to be housed in temporary shelters. The National Weather Service has emphasized the unprecedented nature of the storm, tweeting that it is “beyond anything experienced.”

Harvey is no longer classified as a hurricane, but the destruction caused by the storm continues to unfold. In the last 72 hours, parts of Houston, Texas have been hit with as many as 30 inches of rain. Nearby cities and towns have been overwhelmed by floodwaters, as swollen lakes and rivers have spilled into surrounding communities. At least five people have died because of Harvey — that figure is expected to rise — and officials say that over 30,000 people may need to be housed in temporary shelters. The National Weather Service has emphasized the unprecedented nature of the storm, tweeting that it is “beyond anything experienced.”

The national turmoil we are witnessing is not just a crisis of institutions, or politics, or a society at a crossroads. It is also a crisis of health.

Hate, such as the kind we witnessed in Charlottesville, Virginia, is like a disease, spreading among populations, undermining health in a manner eerily similar to that of a pathogen. When a society is infected by hate, it is not hard to see how it can affect our bodies and minds.

The national turmoil we are witnessing is not just a crisis of institutions or politics or a society at a crossroads. It is also a crisis of health. Hate such as the kind we witnessed in Charlottesville is like a disease, spreading among populations and undermining health in a manner eerily similar to that of a pathogen. When a society is infected by hate, it is not hard to see how it can affect our bodies and minds. Being hated is stressful. It makes a person fear for her safety, resent her lack of respect, and worry about what the future holds for herself and her family. People who feel hated are more likely to experience major depression, and the fruits of hate — prejudice, discrimination, segregation, and interpersonal antagonism — sicken and kill Americans every day.