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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response

Dec 6, 2024 - Offers guidance to rural fire departments wanting to supplement their emergency response plans with non-firefighter trained support volunteers. Guidance includes planning for the health, safety, and nutrition needs of volunteers.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Dec 6, 2024 - Notice from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) seeking comments on the risk component of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) cooperative agreement funding formula to inform potential future changes. HPP is a cooperative agreement program that prepares the nation's healthcare delivery system to save lives during emergencies that exceed the day-to-day capacity of healthcare and emergency response systems. Comments are due by December 20, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 3, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on a proposed revision to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 2025-2027. BRFSS is a nationwide system of cross-sectional surveys that produces state-level information primarily on health risk behaviors, health conditions, and preventive health practices that are associated with chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and injury. Proposed revisions include the addition of questions on the following topics to questionnaires: heart attack and stroke, disaster/pandemic preparedness, veterans' health, and the use of newly available tobacco products. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 3, 2024 - Discusses the rural-specific challenges with cybersecurity for hospitals, noting that shortages in the cybersecurity workforce is acute in rural areas. Highlights a program through the University of Alabama at Birmingham to offer cybersecurity risk assessments for small Alabama hospitals at a reduced cost.
Source: WTVY
Nov 25, 2024 - Describes the work of clinicians deployed to rural communities by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCEMS) in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Discusses the challenges faced by providers staffing the temporary sites, including flooded roads and limited electricity. Notes the wide range of services that were offered at the sites, from wound care to replacing medications that were lost in the storm.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Nov 25, 2024 - Provides overview of data on bird flu spread in western states. Notes the possibility of numerous unreported cases among farmworkers due to a widespread lack of testing. Features varying perspectives on the testing of asymptomatic individuals and best practices for increasing testing among farmworkers.
Source: Idaho Capital Sun
Nov 21, 2024 - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will hold a meeting of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council on December 11, 2024 from 1:00 pm Eastern. This meeting will be partially closed to the public, with the closure time of the meeting yet to be determined. Members of the public who register to participate virtually will be informed what portion of the meeting will be closed. Agenda items for the open portion of the meeting includes Disaster Response and Resiliency Report, the Promoting Infrastructural Health Report, and the Expanding Workforce Report.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 15, 2024 - Announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding new food assistance approved for nine Virginia counties impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Notes that residents of nine Virginia counties, including rural areas, may now be eligible for food assistance through USDA's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Includes additional information on eligibility and how to apply for assistance.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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