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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response – Organizations

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
Focuses on preparedness planning and response, and provides federal support, including medical professionals through ASPR's National Disaster Medical System to assist state and local entities during an emergency or disaster. Oversees several program areas, including Regional Emergency Coordinators and the Hospital Preparedness Program.
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American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
Represents physicians who practice emergency medicine and provides education, advocacy, and research opportunities. Oversees the Section of Rural Emergency Medicine that develops and shares information related to pre-hospital, initial primary hospital, and tertiary hospitals that provide care for rural emergency patients.
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Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
Represents state and territorial public health agencies in the U.S., including the District of Columbia. Works to inform public health policy and practice, advocate for public health professionals, and provide technical assistance to public health agencies. Includes a Public Health Preparedness Policy Committee to assist public health agencies responding to public health threats and emergencies.
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CDC Office of Rural Health
Works across the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to connect and coordinate related to rural public health infrastructure. Located within the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Acts as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people at home and abroad. Work includes disease prevention and control, environmental health, emergency preparedness and response, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of U.S. residents.
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Provides guidance for responding to, planning for, recovering from, and mitigating disasters throughout the U.S. and territories. Includes information on rural fire safety, prevention, and flooding. Part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Institute for Rural Emergency Management (IREM)
Focuses on meeting the emergency management needs of rural America. Gathers best practices from successful rural projects and develops guidelines targeted towards elected officials and community leaders.
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National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Provides education, advocacy, resources, research, and technical assistance to member local health departments. Offers members a Rural Health Section group to support rural public health professionals.
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National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP)
Provides leadership, advocacy, resources, and education for emergency medical service (EMS) physician members responsible for medical care in the pre-hospital setting. Includes information for rural EMS, community paramedicine and mobile integrated healthcare, wilderness EMS, and emergency preparedness.
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Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
Develops and provides training and resources following an all-hazards approach to support of rural homeland security requirements. Offers extensive training specifically for rural emergency responders and programs are certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC)
Helps prepare states, territories, tribes, and local entities with planning and delivering behavioral health services after a disaster or emergency.
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U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)
Works to reduce fire deaths through data collection, public education, research, and training. Part of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Provides leadership for fire departments, emergency medical services, and stakeholders for fire prevention, preparedness, and response.
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Last Reviewed: 11/13/2023