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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response

Aligning Systems for Health: Research Learnings from Across the Nation
Summarizes findings from three cohorts funded through the Aligning Systems for Health initiative, which explores how systems can better work together to address community goals and needs. Covers research on how established collaborative systems responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, how collaborative systems can be measured, and the evidence base around approaches and conditions that foster collaborative systems. Features findings from the Strengthening Health Equity in Recovery Outcomes (SHERO) study, which measured and described the context surrounding cross-sector alignment within rural and urban community networks in Kentucky, and system alignment efforts across four tribal partners.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations
Discusses the impact cyber-attacks can have on rural healthcare facilities. Features two Critical Access Hospital leaders describing attacks at their organizations. Shares insights from an information technology compliance expert, including actions organizations can take to protect themselves.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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2022 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness (NHS)
Results of telephone interviews and web surveys conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from February-April 2022, to assess preparedness actions, attitudes, and motivations in America. Graphic on page 34 shows a rurality preparedness summary, with breakdowns by rural, urban, and urban cluster communities.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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2022 Preparedness Profile Study
Provides an overview of local health department (LHD) readiness in addressing emergencies and threats. Includes data on percentage of LHDs that focus on issues related to workforce, partnerships, preparedness capacity, and preparedness response activity, with select data broken down by small, medium, and large LHDs.
Author(s): Kellie Hall, Krishna Patel, Deise Galan, et al.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Take Control in 1, 2, 3: Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults
Offers recommendations for becoming prepared for disasters, in 3 steps: Assessing needs, making a plan, and engaging with a support network. Includes sections geared toward older adults with disabilities or with limited resources, and rural older adults.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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"This Is Not My Grandmother's Summer": Rural Populations Are Uniquely Vulnerable to the Health Impacts of Extreme Heat
Discusses the challenges rural areas face in helping address the impact of heat on health. Includes strategies used in rural North Carolina, Indiana, and Washington State to help inform and protect rural residents, including those exposed to heat through work outdoors.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Understanding Climate Disaster Resilience with BEAD
Webinar demonstrating the Broadband Climate Risk Mitigation Tool, a tool highlighting the risk to broadband infrastructure from natural disasters at the census tract level. Also provides information on climate related vulnerabilities to broadband infrastructure and using the tool to apply for Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding. Transcript available by selecting three dots under video and choosing "Show transcript."
Date: 08/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Rural Disaster Behavioral Health: A Guide for Outreach Workers and Crisis Counselors
Provides recommendations to behavioral health professionals who are working with rural populations following a disaster. Offers an overview of rural populations in the United States, behavioral health impacts of disasters, strategies to effectively assist in a rural context, and disaster response recommendations and resources.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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PREVENT Pandemics Act (P.L. 117-328, Division FF, Title II)
Provides a section-by-section overview of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Describes the Continuing Education Support for Health Professionals Serving in Rural and Underserved Communities Program, which supports specialty training for primary care providers, as well as other rural-relevant provisions.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Report: Understanding Disaster Resiliency Factors for Broadband Deployments
Highlights broadband infrastructure vulnerabilities at the census block level related to natural disasters. Discusses unserved and underserved areas as well as 2 rural focused case studies. Makes recommendations to policymakers for a more resilient broadband infrastructure. Includes the Broadband Climate Risk Mitigation Tool for county and census block data.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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