Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response.
HHS Maternal-Child Health Emergency Planning Toolkit
Toolkit developed for healthcare providers, public health professionals, and social services providers focused on improving and addressing maternal and child health during emergencies. Provides resources, promising practices, and case studies related to planning for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for women who are pregnant or postpartum, infants, and young children. Includes discussion on the needs of underserved and rural populations during emergencies.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Toolkit developed for healthcare providers, public health professionals, and social services providers focused on improving and addressing maternal and child health during emergencies. Provides resources, promising practices, and case studies related to planning for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for women who are pregnant or postpartum, infants, and young children. Includes discussion on the needs of underserved and rural populations during emergencies.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Electricity Grid: Opportunities Exist for DOE to Better Support Utilities in Improving Resilience to Hurricanes
Examines the measures utilities selected states have adopted since 2012 to enhance grid resilience following major hurricanes, and the challenges utilities face in funding these measures. Describes federal efforts to enhance grid resilience to hurricanes, and challenges unique to rural utilities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the measures utilities selected states have adopted since 2012 to enhance grid resilience following major hurricanes, and the challenges utilities face in funding these measures. Describes federal efforts to enhance grid resilience to hurricanes, and challenges unique to rural utilities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Critical Access Hospital Requirements: CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule
Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Rural Health Preparedness Policy Brief
Policy brief providing an overview of challenges rural communities experience preparing for and mitigating the effects of disasters and public health emergencies. Offers guidelines and recommendations to improve rural preparedness.
Author(s): Stacie Pace, Jordan Tenenbaum, Michael Meit
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief providing an overview of challenges rural communities experience preparing for and mitigating the effects of disasters and public health emergencies. Offers guidelines and recommendations to improve rural preparedness.
Author(s): Stacie Pace, Jordan Tenenbaum, Michael Meit
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Ethical and Legal Challenges During the COVID‐19 Pandemic – Are We Thinking About Rural Hospitals?
Discusses the legal framework and ethical decisions hospitals are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights emergency preparedness planning for rural hospitals with limited workforce and resources.
Author(s): Love Patel, Amy Elliott, Erik Storlie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 175-178
Date: 01/2021
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Discusses the legal framework and ethical decisions hospitals are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights emergency preparedness planning for rural hospitals with limited workforce and resources.
Author(s): Love Patel, Amy Elliott, Erik Storlie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 175-178
Date: 01/2021
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Framework for a Community Health Observing System for the Gulf of Mexico Region: Preparing for Future Disasters
Outlines a system for monitoring community health during potential disasters in the Gulf of Mexico region. Details the a framework for collecting and organizing data, and discusses considerations in assessing the disparities between rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Paul Sandifer, Landon Knapp, Maureen Lichtveld, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 578463
Date: 10/2020
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Outlines a system for monitoring community health during potential disasters in the Gulf of Mexico region. Details the a framework for collecting and organizing data, and discusses considerations in assessing the disparities between rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Paul Sandifer, Landon Knapp, Maureen Lichtveld, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 578463
Date: 10/2020
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One Health: Bringing Health to Humans, Animals, and the Environment
Provides an overview of the One Health approach, which focuses on the inter-relationship between human, animal, and environmental health. Discusses the relevance of One Health in rural areas and offers examples of issues this approach can help address, such as zoonotic disease like COVID-19, food safety and security, and antimicrobial resistance. Highlights federal agencies and national organizations with One Health activities and initiatives.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of the One Health approach, which focuses on the inter-relationship between human, animal, and environmental health. Discusses the relevance of One Health in rural areas and offers examples of issues this approach can help address, such as zoonotic disease like COVID-19, food safety and security, and antimicrobial resistance. Highlights federal agencies and national organizations with One Health activities and initiatives.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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2020 National Emergency Medical Services Assessment
Describes emergency medical services (EMS), EMS emergency preparedness, and 911 systems at the state and national levels, using data from a survey completed by representatives of 54 states and U.S. territories. Features statistics in categories including EMS organizations, response and patient care, workforce health and safety, disaster preparedness, and funding, including funding provided by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State EMS Officials
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Describes emergency medical services (EMS), EMS emergency preparedness, and 911 systems at the state and national levels, using data from a survey completed by representatives of 54 states and U.S. territories. Features statistics in categories including EMS organizations, response and patient care, workforce health and safety, disaster preparedness, and funding, including funding provided by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State EMS Officials
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Information for First Responders on Maintaining Operational Capabilities During a Pandemic
Provides resources to help first responders plan for the impacts of a severe pandemic. Offers ways to adjust operations to maintain readiness, planning tools for local leaders, and reference sheets with discipline-specific action steps.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Fire Administration
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Provides resources to help first responders plan for the impacts of a severe pandemic. Offers ways to adjust operations to maintain readiness, planning tools for local leaders, and reference sheets with discipline-specific action steps.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Fire Administration
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The Exchange Feature Issue: Preparing for and Responding to Wildfires and Planned Outages
Newsletter issue focusing on lessons learned by medical facilities and communities in Colorado and California during the wildfires of 2017 and 2019. Covers information useful for rural hospital emergency managers and administration, including mass sheltering, hospital evacuation, managing stress and compassion fatigue among workers, and community recovery.
Citation: Issue 10
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Newsletter issue focusing on lessons learned by medical facilities and communities in Colorado and California during the wildfires of 2017 and 2019. Covers information useful for rural hospital emergency managers and administration, including mass sheltering, hospital evacuation, managing stress and compassion fatigue among workers, and community recovery.
Citation: Issue 10
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 2/4/2025