Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response

Nov 13, 2024 - The National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters (NACCD) will hold a virtual public meeting on December 4, 2024. NACCD will discuss potential recommendations to the HHS Secretary and ASPR regarding challenges, opportunities, and priorities for national public health and medical preparedness, response, and recovery specific to the needs of children and their families in disasters. A detailed agenda and registration information will be published on the NACCD meeting website.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 13, 2024 - The National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD) will hold a virtual public meeting on December 10, 2024, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern. NACIDD seeks input from the public on 1) data and monitoring resources to identify the needs of at-risk individuals in an emergency and 2) Emergency Support Functions of the National Response Framework to identify gaps in equitable incident management and disaster response for people with disabilities. Requests to speak to the NACIDD during the public meeting must be sent to the Designated Federal Official by December 5, 2024. A detailed agenda and registration information will be published on the NACIDD website.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 13, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is seeking applications for individuals for membership on the following national advisory committees: National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD), the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters (NACSD), and the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB). Applications are due by January 11, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 11, 2024 - Discusses the ongoing impact of Hurricane Helene for a rural North Carolina county that lost its only dental clinic for low-income patients in the storm. Discusses barriers to recruiting more dental workforce and efforts to maintain some services in a repurposed mobile van.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Nov 4, 2024 - A rural Georgia hospital experienced a ransomware attack, taking offline its electronic health records and IT systems. Discusses the disruption to patient care when a rural hospital is attacked and recent initiatives by the federal government and private sector to improve rural hospital cybersecurity.
Source: GovInfoSecurity
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) making access and parity improvements in USDA's food distribution programs to support access for eligible populations and streamline requirements for program operators. Among other things, changes are aimed at increasing access to food distribution programs so eligible individuals can more easily receive the nutrition resources they need, increasing parity between FDPIR and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), modernizing program operations by updating some outdated terminology and processes, and incorporating lessons learned from implementing these critical programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rule is effective December 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 31, 2024 - Announces a partnership between federal agencies and the National Rural Water Association for a 1 year study on cybersecurity for rural water systems. The study will identify areas for improvement, guidance on cyber-support programs, and offer training on cybersecurity issues.
Source: Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture
Oct 30, 2024 - Profiles a rural fire department preparing for work in winter conditions. Discusses both safety for the firefighters and ensuring equipment remains operational in freezing weather.
Source: KXNET
Oct 25, 2024 - Provides overview of resources available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist North Carolina farmers, businesses, and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Highlights loan and insurance programs for farmers, nutrition assistance for individuals and families, and financial resources available through USDA Rural Development.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Oct 20, 2024 - Announcement of new federal Community Liaisons program to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Helene with ongoing recovery efforts. Provides overview of ongoing programs including Disaster Recovery Centers and mass feeding sites serving impacted communities in rural North Carolina. Details additional resources including home inspections and Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
Source: The White House