Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Operational Challenges During Public Health Emergencies in Safety-Net Hospitals
Results of a study identifying challenges faced by safety net hospitals (SNHs) and approaches to strengthen future emergency response capacity. Based on data from 10 SNHs, including 3 in rural areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Tara Kirk Sell, Vanessa Gregoire, Madisen S. Neufeld, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2640799
Date: 10/2026
view details
Results of a study identifying challenges faced by safety net hospitals (SNHs) and approaches to strengthen future emergency response capacity. Based on data from 10 SNHs, including 3 in rural areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Tara Kirk Sell, Vanessa Gregoire, Madisen S. Neufeld, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2640799
Date: 10/2026
view details
Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience in Rural America: Research Summary of America's Rural Future Symposium | August 6, 2026
Summarizes findings from an August 2026 symposium on federal disaster assistance, response, and preparedness in rural areas. Discusses topics including risk measurement; federal, state, and local roles and capacity to contribute to disaster response; strategies for resilience-oriented investment; and more.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Madeline Tong
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
view details
Summarizes findings from an August 2026 symposium on federal disaster assistance, response, and preparedness in rural areas. Discusses topics including risk measurement; federal, state, and local roles and capacity to contribute to disaster response; strategies for resilience-oriented investment; and more.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Brent Orrell, Adam Aley, Madeline Tong
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, The Brookings Institution
view details
FirstNet Operations Manual
Provides an overview of the FirstNet tools and technologies. Designed to help emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and 911/emergency communications integrate FirstNet into operations. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
view details
Provides an overview of the FirstNet tools and technologies. Designed to help emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and 911/emergency communications integrate FirstNet into operations. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
view details
Changes in Bed-Based Measures of Surge Capacity from 2018 to 2022 among Rural and Urban Hospitals
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.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
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.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Health Industry Cybersecurity Sector Mapping and Risk Toolkit (SMART)
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.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group
view details
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.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group
view details
Tornadoes: Agencies Promote Resilience but Actions Needed to Improve Access to FEMA Assistance
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.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
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.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Public Health Preparedness: HHS Needs a Coordinated National Approach for Diagnostic Testing for Pandemic Threats
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.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
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.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
On the Edge: Cybersecurity Health of America's Resource-Constrained Health Providers Findings and Recommendations
Summarizes insights on cybersecurity risks and concerns from leaders of resource-constrained healthcare facilities, including rural hospitals and clinics. Discusses risk mitigation strategies used, readiness, and past experience with cybersecurity incidents. Includes recommendations to government and community partners to support preparedness, incident response, and compliance with cybersecurity rules.
Author(s): Cybersecurity Working Group
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC)
view details
Summarizes insights on cybersecurity risks and concerns from leaders of resource-constrained healthcare facilities, including rural hospitals and clinics. Discusses risk mitigation strategies used, readiness, and past experience with cybersecurity incidents. Includes recommendations to government and community partners to support preparedness, incident response, and compliance with cybersecurity rules.
Author(s): Cybersecurity Working Group
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC)
view details
Lessons for Human Services: Perspectives of Program Participants on Extreme Weather and Environmental Hazards
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.
Author(s): Anne Junod, Pamela Winston, Maretta McDonald, Mikaela Tajo, Rebecca Marx
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
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.
Author(s): Anne Junod, Pamela Winston, Maretta McDonald, Mikaela Tajo, Rebecca Marx
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources: A Guide for Rural Communities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
view details
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for: