Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Challenges and Solutions for Disaster Behavioral Health in Rural and Remote Communities
Describes the scope and diversity of rural and remote populations across the nation, highlighting sources of strength and struggle, including the effects of stigma, for rural Americans and rural healthcare providers. Explores potential approaches to disaster behavioral health in rural and remote areas, including governmental and policy approaches, community-based approaches, and telemedicine.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
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Describes the scope and diversity of rural and remote populations across the nation, highlighting sources of strength and struggle, including the effects of stigma, for rural Americans and rural healthcare providers. Explores potential approaches to disaster behavioral health in rural and remote areas, including governmental and policy approaches, community-based approaches, and telemedicine.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
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Rural Emergency Hospital Requirements: CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule
Provides a reference source for Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the REH Conditions of Participation regarding emergency preparedness, as well as CMS interpretive guidelines for 17 other provider types. Covers the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Provides a reference source for Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the REH Conditions of Participation regarding emergency preparedness, as well as CMS interpretive guidelines for 17 other provider types. Covers the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Emergency Preparedness in Rural Communities
Policy position paper discussing emergency preparedness for rural communities. Covers fostering community involvement and a rural culture of readiness, communication, training of health professionals and community residents, community health workers, and research.
Author(s): Justin Kearley, Kate Hill, Joanie Perkins
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy position paper discussing emergency preparedness for rural communities. Covers fostering community involvement and a rural culture of readiness, communication, training of health professionals and community residents, community health workers, and research.
Author(s): Justin Kearley, Kate Hill, Joanie Perkins
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Future Planning for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Enterprise: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summarizes discussions held during a May 2022 workshop to explore the nation's public health emergency (PHE) preparedness enterprise. Includes key components, success stories, and failure points, to identify opportunities for effective catastrophic disaster, pandemic, and other large scale PHEs planning at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels. Mentions disparities between urban and rural or tribal areas throughout.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summarizes discussions held during a May 2022 workshop to explore the nation's public health emergency (PHE) preparedness enterprise. Includes key components, success stories, and failure points, to identify opportunities for effective catastrophic disaster, pandemic, and other large scale PHEs planning at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels. Mentions disparities between urban and rural or tribal areas throughout.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Access to Emergency Medical Services in Rural Communities: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of issues related to the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas. Discusses rural EMS access, financing, and workforce challenges, as well as promising telehealth innovations. Outlines federal programs and resources that support EMS programs. Offers policy recommendations related to access to EMS, workforce, and reimbursement.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of issues related to the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas. Discusses rural EMS access, financing, and workforce challenges, as well as promising telehealth innovations. Outlines federal programs and resources that support EMS programs. Offers policy recommendations related to access to EMS, workforce, and reimbursement.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Tips for Disaster Responders: Understanding Historical Trauma and Resilience When Responding to an Event in Indian Country
Describes historical trauma and its impact on Native American populations, and offers guidance for behavioral health responders when engaged in disaster preparedness and response efforts for tribal communities.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Describes historical trauma and its impact on Native American populations, and offers guidance for behavioral health responders when engaged in disaster preparedness and response efforts for tribal communities.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Through Natural Disaster to Prosperity: Five Principles to Improve Health and Economic Outcomes for Rural Communities and Native Nations
Describes 5 principles related to natural disasters and community resilience, including conditions that affect disaster vulnerability, relationships among rural communities and natural systems, equity in disaster response, local capacity, and responsive funding. Offers rural and tribal case studies and perspectives from rural economic and community development practitioners.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Describes 5 principles related to natural disasters and community resilience, including conditions that affect disaster vulnerability, relationships among rural communities and natural systems, equity in disaster response, local capacity, and responsive funding. Offers rural and tribal case studies and perspectives from rural economic and community development practitioners.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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How FEMA Can Build Rural Resilience Through Disaster Preparedness
Explores the effectiveness of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program in rural and vulnerable communities. Discusses challenges related to rural emergency and disaster preparedness due to limited capacity and finances. Includes policy recommendations and suggestions to streamline federal grantmaking processes.
Author(s): Kevin Manuele, Mark Haggerty
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Explores the effectiveness of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program in rural and vulnerable communities. Discusses challenges related to rural emergency and disaster preparedness due to limited capacity and finances. Includes policy recommendations and suggestions to streamline federal grantmaking processes.
Author(s): Kevin Manuele, Mark Haggerty
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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How To Improve Community Wildfire Defense Grants To Build Rural Resilience
Analyzes the impact of wildfires in northern New Mexico to plan for increased needs related to climate disasters in rural and vulnerable communities across the U.S. Discusses issues such as capacity in rural areas that create challenges when utilizing federal assistance. Provides suggestions for investments in built environment and collaborations across agencies to plan for grant funding that supports rural areas and increases rural resilience.
Author(s): Sofia Garcia George, Mark Haggerty
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Analyzes the impact of wildfires in northern New Mexico to plan for increased needs related to climate disasters in rural and vulnerable communities across the U.S. Discusses issues such as capacity in rural areas that create challenges when utilizing federal assistance. Provides suggestions for investments in built environment and collaborations across agencies to plan for grant funding that supports rural areas and increases rural resilience.
Author(s): Sofia Garcia George, Mark Haggerty
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Preparing Your Organization for Disaster: A Guide to Rural Resilience
A webinar recording that discusses how to prepare organizations in rural areas for potential disasters such as fires, floods, and other issues. Discusses how to create plans and utilize tools to develop resources, support, and housing.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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A webinar recording that discusses how to prepare organizations in rural areas for potential disasters such as fires, floods, and other issues. Discusses how to create plans and utilize tools to develop resources, support, and housing.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Last Updated: 3/10/2025