Importance of Rural Funding, Resources, and Support for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Rural communities face barriers and challenges that make them at-risk to the shocks and stressors resulting from emergencies and disasters. Rural communities do not have the same resources as urban areas, including people and materials, and they are more likely to have financial constraints that slow recovery. Rural communities also have more limited funding for rural response agencies.

Economic stability is important to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Rural communities that are economically stable have greater capacity to recover from emergencies and build community vitality and resilience.

Many rural communities rely on federal grant programs to support rural preparedness and response, particularly in the period following an emergency or disaster. In the United States, there are established mechanisms for delivering post-disaster funding to reach communities affected by disaster events. However, there is a mismatch between the amount of dollars going to rural areas and the proportion of residents living there. Further, the formulas and requirements in place for rural communities to access these funds are often complicated and unfavorable to rural communities and can span multiple departments, agencies, and offices. This makes it challenging for rural communities to have the capacity to access funding.

Often, there is a gap between the time a disaster occurs and the time that funds and assistance are appropriated and then expended in a community. This is particularly true for housing assistance for families affected by a disaster. Local capacity to prepare for and respond to emergencies can affect the pace of recovery in local communities. Local capacity includes factors such as funding, resources, and support.