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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Beyond the Headlines: Funding Disasters in Rural Communities
Recording of a December 9, 2021, webinar with panelists from three nonprofits discussing a variety of responses funders can offer when assisting in the disaster recovery efforts of rural communities. Responses include: hiring language or cultural-specific staff; helping survivors access government assistance; supporting community coalitions or long-term recovery groups; and collaborating with regional organizations to build resilience, response, and recovery networks.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Center for Disaster Philanthropy
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What a Pandemic Has Taught Us About the Potential for Innovation in Rural Health: Commencing an Ethnography in Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Australia
Examines success stories of rural communities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes ethnographic research to explore healthcare response in communities with fewer than 7,000 inhabitants and not near large healthcare centers.
Author(s): Samuel Petrie, Dean Carson, Paul Peters, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 9
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
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Ensuring Equity in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Video of testimony presented to the House Committee on Homeland Security on Oct. 27, 2021. Discusses disaster-related disparities and inequities in tribal, minority, underserved, and rural communities, and offers recommendations for improvement. Includes links for transcripts.
Additional links: Testimony by Chauncia Willis, Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, Testimony by Christopher Currie, Government Accountability Office, Testimony by James Joseph, Tidal Basin Government Consulting, Testimony by Lori Peek, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder
Author(s): Lori Peek, Chauncia Willis, Christopher Currie, James Joseph
Date: 10/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Homeland Security
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Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources: A Guide for Rural Communities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts. Highlights examples of how three rural communities used USDA RD programs to aid their recovery.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Flood Risk is Higher in Rural and Disadvantaged Communities
Examines how flood risk varies based on rural or urban location and socioeconomic or demographic composition, using data from the 48 lower U.S. states. Features statistics on average percentage of properties at risk of flooding, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated areas. Offers recommendations for preparing evacuation and resource distribution materials and creating partnerships with local service agencies, especially in areas with large populations of older adults.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Penn State Population Research Institute
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HHS Maternal-Child Health Emergency Planning Toolkit
Toolkit developed for healthcare providers, public health professionals, and social services providers focused on improving and addressing maternal and child health during emergencies. Provides resources, promising practices, and case studies related to planning for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for women who are pregnant or postpartum, infants, and young children. Includes discussion on the needs of underserved and rural populations during emergencies.
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Electricity Grid: Opportunities Exist for DOE to Better Support Utilities in Improving Resilience to Hurricanes
Examines the measures utilities selected states have adopted since 2012 to enhance grid resilience following major hurricanes, and the challenges utilities face in funding these measures. Describes federal efforts to enhance grid resilience to hurricanes, and challenges unique to rural utilities.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Critical Access Hospital Requirements: CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule
Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) 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 final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Rural Health Preparedness Policy Brief
Policy brief providing an overview of challenges rural communities experience preparing for and mitigating the effects of disasters and public health emergencies. Offers guidelines and recommendations to improve rural preparedness.
Author(s): Stacie Pace, Jordan Tenenbaum, Michael Meit
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness
A roadmap for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinating the national response across all federal departments and agencies. Centered around seven goals addressing mitigation, vaccination, and other key areas. Goal 6 focuses on protecting those most at risk and advancing equity across racial, ethnic, and rural/urban lines. Includes information on rural and tribal issues throughout, including addressing vaccine hesitancy and access to vaccines in hard-to-reach communities.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The White House
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:


Last Updated: 10/23/2024