Rural Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program
NRHA understands that rural communities face unique challenges in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergent situations.
When disaster strikes
If you are looking for guidance in dealing with a rural disaster or emergency scenario, the following links provide useful resources and contact information from federal, state and local organizations. You may also contact NRHA directly for further assistance.
State emergency response programs
Preparedness and response for an emergency
For information about how to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. This site provides detailed, up-to-date information about how to respond to specific hazards, as well as educational materials and related resources.
The CDC’s Office of Public Health Readiness and Response offers assistance to state and local health departments before, during, and after emergencies.
Rural specific emergency preparedness information is available at the Rural Health Information Hub’s Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response. Further, the Rural Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Toolkit provides guidance, funding, and case studies for rural communities to prepare and response to public health emergencies, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and equipment failure.
The Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium offers DHS certified trainings to rural first responders and other medical personnel to prepare for different public health emergencies. Trainings are offered in-person or virtually.
For information about how to respond to public health emergencies, the USDA provides resources on Rural Development programs, technical assistance, and first-responder specific resources.
National Rural Health Association policy briefs
Types of emergencies
Below are resources and guidance for preparing and responding to different types of emergencies and disasters:
Extreme Heat/Wildfires
Extreme Cold/Blizzards
Earthquakes
Tornados
Responding to an emergency
For information about past community responses to specific emergencies and natural disasters, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS) website. The LLIS team identifies lessons from real-world experiences and documents these lessons in a public database for emergency managers and first-responders to consider when planning for and responding to disaster. The site also offers webinars and networking tools.
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) facilitates resource sharing during governor-declared states of emergency through a responsive, straightforward system that allows states to send personnel, equipment and commodities to aid disaster relief efforts in other states. You can also access contact information for state EMAC offices.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program provides assistance to state, tribal and local governments and certain types of private nonprofit organizations. The funding is provided so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the president.
The Rural Health Information Hub provides an up-to-date list of emergency preparedness and response funding opportunities for rural communities based on location and type of emergency.
We also recommend connecting with your state rural health association for further disaster assistance. Access a list of all state rural health associations here.
Vulnerable populations
Please find additional resources below for populations that may need additional considerations to adequately prepare and respond to public health emergencies:
Regional resources
To find rural public health preparedness resources specific to your region within the US, please read the below:
Grant programs
Below are funding opportunities for emergency preparedness and recovery for health providers and communities: