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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – Models and Innovations

These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas and provide lessons others have learned. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.

Other Project Examples

Updated/reviewed August 2024

  • Need: To enhance emergency preparedness in rural areas by providing access to training, exercises, and crucial information.
  • Intervention: SPARC, a coalition of 197 organizations in southern Illinois, focuses on emergency preparedness.
  • Results: SPARC has facilitated numerous training sessions, exercises, and community events, enhancing regional preparedness and resilience.

Added March 2024

  • Need: To help rural communities in Texas better prepare for disasters and emergency events.
  • Intervention: A year-long pilot project used focus groups, a survey, and exit interviews to research a collaboration with librarians and local stakeholders to discuss a community's strengths and opportunities for resiliency planning.
  • Results: Community stakeholders in Pottsboro and Gladewater collaborated to identify challenges to rural disaster preparedness like aging infrastructure and lack of communication with residents. They began the process to address these challenges through local resiliency planning and future programming.
Last Reviewed: 5/14/2025