Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

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 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
Nov 13, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is seeking applications for individuals for membership on the following national advisory committees: National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD), the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters (NACSD), and the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB). Applications are due by January 11, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 15, 2024 - Order from the Federal Communications Commission waiving certain program rules for the Rural Health Care Program providers impacted by Hurricane Milton. Highlights changes to deadlines for appeals and waivers, information requests, and invoices as well as document retention rules.
Source: Universal Service Administrative Co.
Oct 9, 2024 - Notice from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking comments on the adoption of updated Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) delineations for use in certain of FEMA's grant programs: Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP), the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP), the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), and the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). Comments are due by December 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 9, 2024 - Announces new grant funding for a Maryland program testing drone delivery for rural island residents. The program will deliver medical packages from the mainland and will explore drone use during emergency situations such as natural disasters.
Source: StateScoop
Oct 8, 2024 - Order from the Federal Communications Commission waiving certain program rules for the Rural Health Care Program providers impacted by Hurricane Helene. Highlights changes to deadlines for appeals and waivers, information requests, the Health Care Connect Fund Program annual report, and invoices as well as document retention rules.
Source: Universal Service Administrative Co.
Oct 7, 2024 - Request for public comments on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Disaster Recovery Framework. Notes that the framework shapes the federal government's approach to disaster recovery assistance, with implications for state, local, and territorial governments, Tribal Nations, and nongovernmental partners. Comments are due by October 23, 2024.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Last Updated: 11/25/2024