HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

12/19/2025

As we enter this holiday season, I’m reminded of the resilience and generosity that define our communities. This is a time to reflect, to celebrate, and to look ahead with hope.

I’m deeply grateful for the dedication of the ASPR team and our partners across government and beyond, whose work safeguards health and strengthens our nation every day. I’m equally inspired by the countless acts of service, large and small, that remind us of the power of working together for the common good.

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, and joy this holiday season, and renewed faith as we prepare for the year ahead.

12/19/2025

Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on mountainous areas of Appalachia, causing unprecedented flooding, widespread damage to roadways, and necessitating the evacuation of numerous residents, many of whom needed medical assistance. The destruction significantly hampered responders’ ability to communicate both internally and externally.

Several federally supported preparedness efforts allowed state officials and health care professionals to act quickly and stand up a much-needed shelter. The State Emergency Response Team leveraged Hospital Preparedness Program funding to stockpile resources in warehouses across the state. Five locations were set up and 500+ people on the state medical response team were trained in order to treat over 1,000 patients over 41 days.

Learn how they overcame communications and environmental challenges to provide care for evacuees and reach isolated communities.https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/state-of-response--collaboration-and-communication-in-the-aftermath-of-hurricane-helene.pdf

12/18/2025

Opioid addiction is not just a public health crisis. It is a national security threat, and it strikes at the heart of our communities nationwide.

In the latest edition of the ASPR blog, I detail our latest efforts to reduce deaths from opioid overdose. https://aspr.hhs.gov/ASPRBlog/Pages/BlogDetailView.aspx?ItemID=502

12/17/2025

Signature Healthcare’s Brockton Hospital’s 10-alarm electrical fire forced the evacuation of 162 patients and caused an extended closure. Learn what steps leadership took, how they prioritized goals, and which strategies they used to overcome challenges and reopen to continue serving their community.https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/rising-from-the-ashes-the-signature-healthcare-response-to-the-unimaginable.pdf

12/16/2025

When tragedy struck Brown University, more than 30 RI Medical Reserve Corps volunteers answered the call without hesitation and with little notice. Working tirelessly throughout the night, RI MRC provided behavioral health support and incident support. The RI MRC team supported local efforts to reduce acute stress in students and staff, ensure reunification, support the community, and more.

Thank you to the RI MRC volunteers for compassion you showed during this difficult response and for your team’s operational readiness. You worked through the night not just with skill, but with genuine empathy and heart.

Years of support from ASPR – from training to facilities to equipment and more – empowered RI MRC to take action and support the community with a combination of compassion and expertise. RI MRC did an outstanding job of using its unique Trauma Response Team to provide behavioral health support to staff and students during a crisis. The RI MRC’s response is truly inspiring

From the bottom of our hearts: thank you. Your dedication to serving others with kindness is truly inspiring.

The RI Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corps’ Trauma Response Team (TRT) was rapidly deployed in response to the Active Assailant incident at Brown University, providing critical behavioral health and incident support throughout the overnight response.

In coordination with Brown University, Providence Emergency Management Agency, RI EMA, the RI Department of Health, and the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH), TRT supported the establishment and operation of a Reunification Center on the Brown campus. Team members delivered behavioral health support to students and staff while also serving as subject matter experts to incident leadership during a complex, evolving incident.

The RI Behavioral Health MRC is designed to integrate behavioral health capabilities directly into emergency operations, helping to stabilize individuals, reduce acute stress responses, and support communities in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events.

At the same time, members of the RI Medical Reserve Corps provided incident management assistance, logistical support, operational support, and liaison functions. More than 30 MRC members deployed, many with little notice, demonstrating exceptional readiness and professionalism.

Operations were sustained from 4:30 PM Saturday afternoon through 5:30 AM Sunday morning, underscoring the commitment of volunteers and partners working continuously to support the Brown University community.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all responders and partners involved. Our thoughts remain with the students, staff, and families affected as recovery continues.

Brooke Lawrence
Executive Director
rimrc.link/BLawrence

Medical Reserve Corps
Brown University
RI Dept. of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals
Providence, RI Emergency Management Agency - PEMA
Rhode Island Department of Health
Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
Governor Dan McKee

12/15/2025

Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessments provide a systematic approach to identifying and prioritizing the threats that could most impact your healthcare facility and community.

The CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule requires many health care facilities to conduct a risk assessment or hazard vulnerability assessment. Our updated Hazard Vulnerability Assessment/Risk Assessment Topic Collection includes tools, courses, and resources designed to support healthcare organizations and public health departments can use to ensure compliance with the CMS Rule and other standards. See what’s new and strengthen your planning. Check out the link in our bio or visit: https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/technical-resources/3/hazard-vulnerability-risk-assessment/0

12/12/2025

In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Milton also made landfall in Florida, accompanied by tornadoes that contributed to significant power outages in Florida and other states and compounding damage caused by Helene.

Learn how the HCA Healthcare system worked together to protect patients, support staff, and continue care during power, water, and communication failures.https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/mission-critical-leading-a-healthcare-system-through-concurrent-disasters.pdf

12/10/2025

ASPR’s Regional Operation teams empower state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public health and emergency management leaders by connecting them with the right federal public health and medical resources—fast.

From drills and exercises to real-world response, our Regional Emergency Coordinators (RECs) are there every step of the way. ASPR’s RECs are trusted partners to state and local public health leaders, helping them navigate complex federal systems and access life-saving resources.

For years, we’ve worked together to make responses faster, smarter, and more effective. As the year draws to a close, we look forward to working with our state and local public health partners for many years to come. https://aspr.hhs.gov/ASPRBlog/Pages/BlogDetailView.aspx?ItemID=501

12/10/2025

The rise in natural and man-made disasters has increased the likelihood that hospitals will need to partially or fully evacuate.

ASPR TRACIE’s new Sheltering, Relocation, and Evacuation chapter in the Hospital Readiness and Response: An Online Guidebook highlights strategies, timing, decision-making factors, planning considerations, and logistics essential to hospital emergency management.

Explore this new chapter and access the rest of the guidebook today: https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/HRROG

12/08/2025

When Hurricane Helene hit, Mission Hospital, an 853-bed flagship hospital in Asheville, NC, sheltered in place. Because of their preparedness and quick, innovative response, they were able to protect patients and staff while overcoming utility failures, road closures, supply shortages, and other challenges. Learn how resilience and teamwork made it possible:https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/mission-accomplished--how-a-hospital-sheltered-in-place-kept-patients-and-staff-safe-and-maintained-operations-after-hurricane-helene.pdf

12/05/2025

Healthcare facilities and jurisdictions rely on accurate data to inform hazard vulnerability and risk assessments. Our new Data Sources for Hazard Vulnerability Assessments Resource Page compiles publicly available data sources - organized by hazard type - to help you assess community-level threats and strengthen preparedness.

Discover the right data to guide your planning: https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/HVA