Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response resources via the Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: FirstNet Operations Manual

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:32:51 -0500

Provides an overview of the FirstNet tools and technologies. Designed to help emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and 9-1-1/emergency communications integrate FirstNet into operations. Mentions rural throughout.

News: USDA Rural Development Highlights Disaster Assistance in "Disasters and Federal Resources" Roundtable

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:46:18 -0500

Highlights U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development programs available for disaster preparation, response, and recovery with focus a on their use in Illinois.

Event: The Security Risk Assessment Tool from ONC and OCR: An Overview for Small and Medium Practices Webinar #2

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:04:36 -0500

-- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Event: The Security Risk Assessment Tool from ONC and OCR: An Overview for Small and Medium Practices Webinar #1

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:01:19 -0500

-- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Resource: Strengthening Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:15:13 -0500

Features information, services, and products to assist systems in preparing for, preventing, and responding to water-related cybersecurity threats. Includes updates and advisories, training modules, and information on National Rural Water Association initiatives and partnerships. -- National Rural Water Association

Event: HHS Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Tribal Listening Session

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:15:31 -0500

-- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Resource: Pediatric Considerations in Disasters for Resource-Constrained and Rural Settings

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:57:47 -0500

A collection of 10 modules on topics affecting children in disasters, focusing on rural and other resource-constrained settings. Includes videos, case-based learning, exercises, and e-books.

Event: 2026 11th Annual Tribal Nations Training Week

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:47 -0500

Anniston AL
September 12, 2026 -- Federal Emergency Management Agency

Resource: CI Fortify: Strengthening Resilience Across Critical Infrastructure

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:51:31 -0500

Describes CI Fortify, an initiative dedicated to improving public health and safety, critical infrastructure, continuity of the economy, and national security, in case of a geopolitical conflict. Includes links to resources that help ensure cybersecurity professionals are prepared to sustain essential operations in case of disruptive cyberattacks.

Resource: The Dialogue: Rural and Remote Disaster Behavioral Health

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:22:13 -0600

Journal issue discusses the behavioral health needs and challenges during disasters in rural and remote communities. Highlights the mental health challenges that co-occur with disasters such as extreme heat, floods, droughts and other disasters in rural communities and details strategies for addressing them. -- SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

Event: 2026 Annual National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:39:01 -0600

National Harbor MD
December 1, 2026

Resource: Changes in Bed-Based Measures of Surge Capacity from 2018 to 2022 among Rural and Urban Hospitals

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:52:35 -0600

Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Health Industry Cybersecurity Sector Mapping and Risk Toolkit (SMART)

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:52:45 -0500

Provides templates and methodologies for healthcare providers, insurance plans, and manufacturers to map and identify systemic cybersecurity risks posed by third party technology, software, and communications services. Includes considerations for small and rural healthcare organizations.

Resource: Risk Management in Rural Communities: Expanding Capacities for the If and When

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:30:31 -0500

Training module introducing concepts and practical issues related to risk management, collective capacity, and risk communication for rural public health professionals. Provides tailored guidance on developing organizational risk management plans for emergency response. Continuing education credits for this course are available through September 1, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.

Resource: Tornadoes: Agencies Promote Resilience but Actions Needed to Improve Access to FEMA Assistance

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:05:54 -0500

Report investigating accessibility of FEMA assistance funding for tribal and rural communities. Discusses grant writing, cost share, benefit-cost analyses, infrastructure, emergency management staffing, and more. -- Government Accountability Office

Resource: Public Health Preparedness: HHS Needs a Coordinated National Approach for Diagnostic Testing for Pandemic Threats

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:11:06 -0500

Describes a roundtable of 19 experts the Government Accountability Office (GAO) convened to discuss actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should take to improve diagnostic testing for infectious diseases with pandemic potential. Identifies actions suggested by the experts, including two areas commonly repeated by experts. Offers four recommendations to HHS related to developing a national diagnostic testing strategy and establishing a national testing forum. Includes rural references throughout. -- Government Accountability Office

Resource: Lessons for Human Services: Perspectives of Program Participants on Extreme Weather and Environmental Hazards

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:59:05 -0600

Examines how human services programs mitigate issues caused by environmental hazards and extreme weather for low-income and underresourced communities. Utilizes qualitative data from 41 participants, with a focus on impacts of trash and garbage, flooding, air and water quality, extreme heat, and other environmental conditions. Includes commentary about hazards specific to rural areas. -- HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

Resource: Resilience Planning: What Communities Can Do to Keep Hazards from Turning into Disasters

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:59:27 -0600

Provides guidance for communities of all sizes to integrate resilience objectives in their long-term planning. Discusses how to work through resilience planning and includes examples from a rural Southampton Township in New Jersey. -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Resource: Strengthening Indigenous America: Building Resilience Through Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:32:38 -0500

Summarizes key concepts from a July 2024 workshop that explored how to support the capacity of Indigenous American and tribal communities and nations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and public health emergencies. Discusses tribal sovereignty; emergency management capacities and capabilities; relationships with partners and jurisdictions; Indigenous knowledge, best practices, and translation; and data and research. -- Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Resource: Medical Surge and the Role of Health Clinics

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:07:12 -0500

Results of a study exploring the scope and level of implementation of emergency management activities among health clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics. Uses information from 175 online surveys with health clinic leaders from 38 states. Features statistics from participating clinics, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, rural, and remote locations, and type of clinic. -- Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Resource: Lessons for Future Pandemics: Temporal Evolution and Rural-Urban Variations in the Impacts of the COVID-19 on Opioid Use Treatment

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:21:36 -0500

Presents a study highlighting the lessons learned from opioid use treatment programs operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explores the impact of the pandemic on treatment services. Discusses the use of telehealth for both counseling and medication prescribing, as well as the challenges faced by patients trying to obtain treatment during the pandemic.

Resource: HHS emPOWER Map

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:33:26 -0500

Map system displaying the number of Medicare beneficiaries who have had a claim for one or more types of electricity-dependent durable medical and assistive equipment (DME) and devices, as well as at-risk combinations data for people who rely on essential healthcare services and electricity-dependent DME and devices. Users can access data to inform emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation public health activities. -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Resource: Rural Communities of Color Are Overrepresented among Community Disaster Resilience Zones

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:26:48 -0500

Analysis of the rurality of community disaster resilience zones (CDRZs), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation that offers priority federal support for preparation for and response to disasters. Includes data breakdown by remoteness and distribution of people of color. Discusses rates of philanthropic giving. -- Urban Institute

Resource: Small Business Administration: Targeted Outreach about Disaster Assistance Could Benefit Rural Communities

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 14:29:48 -0600

Examines disaster loan trends in rural and urban areas using geocoded Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application data for fiscal years 2017 through 2022. Describes challenges rural communities may face in seeking disaster assistance from SBA and actions SBA could take to address these challenges. -- Government Accountability Office

Resource: Building Resilience through Disaster Relief and Recovery

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:59:40 -0600

Describes the impact of climate events on rural populations and community infrastructure. Provides strategies for localized disaster response and recovery solutions by utilizing partnerships, building resilience, and improving food access. Transcript available below description. -- No Kid Hungry

Resource: Neighborhoods at Risk

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 10:56:00 -0600

Tool offering maps and reports of neighborhoods by environmental risks and disparities in impact. Data available at the census tract, city, county, or state level.

Resource: Wildfire Risk to Communities

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 10:07:19 -0600

Offers interactive maps, charts, and resources showing risk of wildfire at the city, county, or state level. Includes impact to vulnerable populations such as those in poverty, with limited transportation, by age, with a disability, and more. Includes recommended actions for reducing risk for community members, elected officials, healthcare services, and more.

Resource: RHC Emergency Preparedness 101

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 09:08:46 -0600

Recording of a November 7, 2023, webinar on Rural Health Clinic (RHC) emergency preparedness requirements. Provides an overview of the regulatory and interpretive guidance requirements and discusses the components of an emergency preparedness manual. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series. -- National Association of Rural Health Clinics

Resource: Public Health Preparedness: Building and Maintaining Infrastructure beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:51:46 -0600

Describes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding programs that support public health infrastructure and preparedness at the state and local levels. Examines challenges identified by officials across 12 jurisdictions and 10 stakeholder groups regarding building and maintaining the public health and preparedness infrastructure. Appendix III profiles the 12 selected jurisdictions, notes the rurality of each jurisdiction, and outlines examples of projects funded by CDC awards. -- Government Accountability Office

Resource: Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:13:58 -0500

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. -- Rural Health Information Hub