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Natural Disaster Survival Hub


When emergencies happen in rural communities, especially disasters that are severe or prolonged, the demands on local response agencies and healthcare facilities can quickly consume available resources. Disasters have complex effects, whether they are natural or man-made, and can occur without warning.




Natural Disaster Survival Hub


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Emergency response refers to actions taken after an emergency or natural disaster to help minimize the negative effects. Examples can include emergency communications; coordinating first responders and volunteers; providing emergency medical care to the injured; coordinating temporary shelter for evacuated or displaced survivors; and organizing supplies and equipment for those assisting in and affected by the emergency or disaster.


In order to lessen the severity of possible disasters, communities and public health agencies must plan ahead, so that procedures are in place before they are needed. Partnering to Achieve Rural Emergency Preparedness: A Workbook for Healthcare Providers in Rural Communities offers suggestions to help Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and rural hospitals create all-hazards emergency plans and strengthen collaboration with response partners. Planning should include:


Rural healthcare providers and organizations should be familiar with local-, regional-, and state-level emergency management systems. Building professional relationships with key personnel in various health-related or civic organizations and government agencies will better position rural healthcare providers to work effectively and efficiently in the event of a disaster. Examples of these groups can include local and state health departments, primary care associations, behavioral health facilities and agencies, clinics, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, law enforcement officials, first responders, and disaster relief agencies.


The Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) offers rural specific training and resources for emergency responders. Free courses are available in-person and online, and are certified by the Department of Homeland Security. You can view the training schedule and course catalog online. RDPC utilizes an all-hazards approach for emergency preparedness and response training to prepare responders for many types of emergencies, threats, disasters, and hazards. The Public Health Foundation coordinates the TRAIN Learning Network, which provides education, training, and resources to professionals at little or no cost. You can narrow your search of available courses by rural, course format, date, selected public health competencies and capabilities, and more.


Community members can play an important role in a community's ability to plan, respond, and recover from emergencies and disasters. Community members can participate in planning efforts, receive training, and also serve as volunteers who support response and recovery efforts.


The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of local volunteer groups that engage communities to support public health, reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and improve preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. MRC volunteers play a large role in building community resilience and preparing for and responding to disasters. MRC training is free, but registration is required. The MRC TRAIN course catalog and guide for new members is available online for community members to prepare and train for disasters.


Another program offering training for community volunteers interested in assisting with emergency preparedness and response is provided through the Department of Homeland Security's website, Ready.gov. This platform provides emergency preparedness and response education and training resources for a variety of emergencies and disasters, such as flooding, power outages, fires, emergency alerts, active shooter situations, and more. Ready.gov also includes information and resources on Citizen Corps, a national network for state, local, and tribal members working to prepare their local communities for an emergency.


The Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH) at Iowa State University developed and maintains a website, All Hazards: Resources to Help Rural Communities Prepare for Disasters and Other Hazards, that offers guidance, resources, and assistance for agricultural communities to prepare for and recover from disasters and emergency situations, including dangers related to agrochemicals. In 2016, CFSPH published a guide, All-Hazards Preparedness for Rural Communities, for individuals, farmers, and businesses in rural agricultural communities preparing for an all-hazards approach for their communities and commodities.


Some state-level public health departments offer courses in rural emergency preparedness and response. To find yours, see the list of State Health Departments. FEMA maintains a list of state Emergency Management Agencies. These state agencies may provide programs in homeland security, emergency management, emergency operations, conducting preparedness drills and exercises, hazard planning, strategic planning and community preparedness, and disaster recovery.


Emergency preparedness and response planning tends to focus on the immediate needs of a community. However, rural emergency planners should consider the effect an urban disaster might have on their community. If residents of larger cities evacuate during an emergency or natural disaster, they would likely travel to or through rural areas.


A 2014 NACCHO report, Responding to Medical Surge in Rural Communities: Practices for Immediate Bed Availability, offers guidance for ensuring 20% of hospital beds within a healthcare coalition can promptly be made available for high-needs patients in the aftermath of a disaster.


It is important to identify strategies for communicating and engaging with rural communities during emergency preparedness and response planning. Sharing key information through verbal or written means is important for a planned, coordinated, and appropriate response to an emergency or disaster. Resources for emergency communication:


Rural hospitals are required to have emergency operation plans (EOPs) per CMS requirements. This is explained further below in What are the emergency preparedness requirements for rural healthcare facilities? More than 90% of hospitals in the United States use some form of the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS). HICS helps hospitals and healthcare professionals prepare for and react to disasters by establishing a clear chain of command. HICS can be used for hospitals of all sizes.


The Missouri Hospital Association's report, Preparedness and Partnerships: Lessons Learned from the Missouri Disasters of 2011, offers guidance to organizations developing emergency preparedness and response plans. The Minnesota Department of Health published a bulletin, Information and Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities and Providers in the Event of Spring Flooding or Other Natural Disasters, outlining guidelines healthcare organizations and professionals can use to answer questions regarding standard operating procedures during an emergency or natural disaster.


Another option for staff at rural healthcare organizations preparing for disasters and large-scale emergencies is to complete free, online courses from FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI). A list of EMI's independent study courses is available online.


According to a research and policy brief from the Maine Rural Health Research Center, Encouraging Rural Health Clinics to Provide Mental Health Services: What Are the Options?, many rural areas experience shortages in mental health services, and these deficiencies may become more pronounced after a disaster.


A 2014 Public Health Reports article, An Academic-Government-Faith Partnership to Build Disaster Mental Health Preparedness and Community Resilience, notes that most disaster-related injuries and trauma are psychological, not physical. For that reason, it is important that rural communities plan and prepare before a disaster happens, so appropriate mental health services are available after a disaster. Rural healthcare providers may find they must tailor mental health services to the specific type of disaster their patients experienced. A Tale of Two Studies of Two Disasters: Comparing Psychosocial Responses to Disaster among Oklahoma City Bombing Survivors and Hurricane Katrina Evacuees, an article published in Rehabilitation Psychology, found that survivors of a mass casualty event were more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, whereas hurricane evacuees tended to need treatment for serious, persistent, preexisting psychiatric disorders. A fact sheet from the Disaster and Community Crisis Center at the University of Missouri, Mental Health Response to Community Disasters: A Fact Sheet for Disaster Mental Health Planners, Responders, and Providers, reviews the mental health implications of disasters and offers recommendations for mental health interventions.


The Medical Reserve Corps and FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can assist rural communities with planning to address mental health needs after a disaster. Another option for some rural communities may be the Red Cross Disaster Services teams, which include independently-licensed mental health professionals who deploy to work at the local level supporting people affected by the disaster, as well as volunteers working as part of the relief operation. These mental health professionals have master's degrees or higher-level graduate degrees and can include:


The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. In particular, SAMHSA's Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) helps states, territories, tribes, and local entities prepare to provide effective mental health services. SAMHSA also offers a Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program that provides grants and technical assistance to help individuals and communities recover from natural and man-made disasters through community outreach and access to mental health services. 041b061a72


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