Rural Public Health 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
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 Preparedness and Response offers assistance to state and local health departments before, during and after emergencies.
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.
The West:
- General Resources:
- Tsunami:
- Earthquakes:
- Volcanic Activity:
- Wildfires/Extreme Heat:
- Flooding:
- Blizzards: