“The Great Plains drought of 1931-1939 was a prolonged socioecological disaster with widespread impacts on society, economy, and health. While its immediate impacts are well documented, we know much less about the disaster’s effects on distal human outcomes. In particular, the event’s effects on later effects on place-based stress. ” This study looked at young men’s exposure to drought and dust storms in 341 Great Plains counties in order to see if there is a link with higher risk of death in early-old age. Contrary to expectations, it turns out that exposure to drought conditions had no adverse effect among men aged 65 years or older at time of death – rather – they actually lived longer compared to men who did not live through a drought. Sue Sanders was right about the common herd.

Serge Atherwood. “Does a Prolonged Hardship Reduce Life Span? Examining the longevity of Young Men who Lived through the 1930s Great Plains Drought.” Population and Environment 43, 530-552 (2022).