Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

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
Oct 4, 2024 - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking comments concerning the National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness, which identifies progress and gaps in individual and community preparedness and to better understand the motivational factors and barriers to preparedness that people face. Comments are due by December 3, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 4, 2024 - Explores factors contributing to low patient volumes at field hospitals erected in rural North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Discusses how damaged power and communications systems may have hindered efforts to spread the word about the temporary services, and identifies collaboration with local AM radio stations as a potential workaround. Notes ongoing efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a range of local and national partners to locate missing persons and prepare for a potential surge in patient volumes.
Source: NBC News
Oct 1, 2024 - Highlights the role local radio stations have played in conveying important information for rural North Carolina communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Notes that previous storm-related emergencies prompted local leaders to prepare radio stations as part of their response efforts.
Source: Southern Living
Sep 27, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) withdrawing the May 10, 2016, proposed rule titled "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)." This rule would have amended the SNAP regulations to establish procedures for planning, requesting, and operating D-SNAP. FNS is withdrawing this proposed rule to maintain the flexibility to adapt D-SNAP to unique disaster situations. This withdrawal is effective September 27, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 28, 2024 - Provides overview of new research published in the Journal of Rural Health on the vulnerability of rural hospitals to ransomware attacks. Notes that such attacks are more likely to target urban hospitals, but rural hospitals are more vulnerable to the impacts. Discusses impacts to rural patients and the need for more advance preparation among rural hospitals.
Source: University of Minnesota
Last Updated: 10/16/2024