Analysis, situation reports, and perspective on public health emergency preparedness from the HRA team.
News reports published on January 14, 2026 say HHS sent letters on January 13 ending a large share of SAMHSA grant funding, with more details from STAT and stories about frontline impacts.
The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) FY2026-2029 Strategic Plan reads like more than a routine refresh. It signals a shift in posture, incentives, and how the federal government intends to define ...
As we head into 2026, health access during emergencies is being shaped less by the disasters themselves and more by the systems people depend on before a crisis ever begins. Coverage affordability, vaccination policy shi...
In our first months, HRA sprinted alongside partners to get a pilot ready for peak hurricane season. The goal was simple: build something useful, test it with real partners, and be ready to support action if a major even...
Disasters rarely create just one health problem. They interrupt the everyday pathways people use to stay stable, from prescriptions and dialysis to prenatal visits and cancer treatment. When the system is under stress, a...
Health Response Alliance has activated for this event to support assessment and requests for assistance from health services in the affected area.
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has launched a pilot program to decentralize intravenous (IV) fluid production. In partnership with DEKA Research and Development Corp, the initiative cen...
In a crisis, access to qualified health professionals can mean the difference between order and chaos. Yet bureaucratic barriers too often prevent medical volunteers from crossing state lines just when they’re needed mos...
Disaster response planning typically assumes that most people have some form of health coverage. This foundation enables timely access to medications, urgent care, and long-term recovery services. But the Medicaid cliff ...
Texas has seen more than 20 rural hospital closures since 2010. Under OBBBA, Medicaid reimbursement cuts could reach nearly $70 billion under the House bill and $1 trillion under Senate versions, prompting concern about ...
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm and charged inland, flooding western North Carolina, East Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia. In North Carolina alone, more than 200 liv...
In 2025, the United States is undergoing a profound transformation in how it manages disasters. A March 2025 executive order, Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness, called on state and local governmen...
NGOs haven’t traditionally relied on large-scale federal funding. Many operate independently or in collaboration with philanthropic funders, international networks, or community institutions. But as the federal role in d...
The proposed elimination of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) in the federal budget has sparked real concern among public health and emergency management professionals. For more than 20 years, HPP has helped hospit...
On May 2, 2025, the White House released its proposed discretionary budget for FY 2026, signaling major shifts that could reshape the landscape for emergency management and public health preparedness. Though this proposa...
Founded in 1993 to revitalize national service efforts, AmeriCorps rapidly expanded into disaster and public health response. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2006, AmeriCorps' role became undeniable, as...
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have proven to be among the most cost-effective and reliable tools for enhancing public health and emergency preparedness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these collaborations enabled the...
In April 2025, a leaked version of the FY2026 HHS budget proposal revealed potential cuts and structural changes that could significantly impact the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP)—a cornerstone of the nation’s healt...
In April 2025, a leaked draft of the FY2026 HHS budget proposal revealed plans to eliminate the HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element (H-CORE) as part of a broader reorganization and $40 billion reduction in d...
The Medical Reserve Corps is a network of over 300,000 trained volunteers. These professionals—ranging from licensed clinicians to logistics and behavioral health specialists—mobilize to support health and emergency oper...
Health Response Alliance – Situation ReportPuerto Rico Island-wide Power OutageDate: April 16, 2025Prepared by: Health Response AllianceStatus: Ongoing Event
Emergency managers across the country are paying close attention to a recent development in Washington State - and they should be. In November 2024, a powerful bomb cyclone swept through the Pacific Northwest, causing an...
Disasters don’t discriminate by immigration status. When wildfires tear through neighborhoods or hurricanes force evacuations, entire communities are displaced. Emergency shelters become essential infrastructure. Hospita...
In early 2025, the U.S. administration implemented substantial tariffs on a wide range of imported goods, aiming to address trade imbalances and bolster domestic industries. These tariffs, ranging from 10% to 50%, have r...
The new tariffs impose a baseline 10% tax on all imports, accompanied by even harsher reciprocal tariffs aimed specifically at nations with considerable trade imbalances with the U.S. These include a 34% tariff on import...
Your emergency response ecosystem is only as strong as your relationships. Start by checking in with your key contacts at ASPR, CDC, FEMA regional offices, and any federal partners you routinely work with. Find out:
ASPR was elevated to an operating division within HHS in 2022 to reflect its growing scope and importance. It plays a central role in federal coordination for public health emergencies, from pandemics to natural disaster...
Effective disaster response starts long before an emergency occurs. Establishing pre-existing agreements with private partners ensures that collaboration can begin immediately when a crisis strikes. Memorandums of Unders...
Beyond its educational mandates, the Department of Education has been instrumental in supporting communities during and after disasters. Key functions include:
The executive order emphasizes that preparedness begins at the community level. The federal government will step back from direct involvement and instead focus on providing support when needed. While this could lead to m...
One of the key ways HRA enhances emergency readiness is by helping organizations map out their existing partnerships, assets, and untapped resources. Many organizations have valuable connections and resources that go und...
Misinformation during hurricanes is not new, but the rise of artificial intelligence-generated content and social media amplification has made it more dangerous. In 2024, false reports of hospital closures, misleading cl...
Imagine a Category 4 hurricane making landfall in a rural town, leaving destruction in its wake. Homes are flooded, power lines are down, and a father of three suffers a heart attack. He calls 911-only to learn that the ...
Unlike traumatic injuries that demand immediate medical attention, chronic diseases require continuous management. Patients rely on regular medication, specialized medical devices, and access to healthcare providers to k...
CHWs provide a range of essential services, from chronic disease management and health education to addressing social determinants of health. They are particularly effective in reaching marginalized communities, includin...
When disaster strikes, coordination is everything. A chaotic response can cost lives, waste resources, and leave communities in prolonged suffering. Internationally, the Cluster System has become the backbone of humanita...
The United States is currently grappling with a significant measles outbreak, centered in West Texas and extending into eastern New Mexico. With over 58 confirmed cases in Texas and at least eight in New Mexico, this is ...
NGOs come in all shapes and sizes, from large international organizations to small local nonprofits, but they share a common strength: the ability to move quickly and adapt to changing conditions. In public health emerge...
Imagine a single digital map or dashboard that shows all healthcare facilities in the region, updated in real time with their open/closed status and any available services. Governments, nonprofits, or tech companies coul...
If you’re working in emergency response or public health, you’ve likely heard the term “health equity” more times than you can count. Sometimes, it feels like the concept is tacked on to grant proposals, or used as a buz...