NPR Speaks to RSS Member Dianna Bryant about the Challenges of Disaster Response in Rural America
In a recent NPR story, Dianna Bryant explained the critical gaps in disaster preparedness and response across rural America. From limited infrastructure to stretched emergency services, rural areas rarely recover from natural disasters with the same speed and support seen in urban centers.
Rural “people have a different investment in the community. And particularly because a lot of these responders are volunteers – they are the ranchers and the farmers and the other people in the community, so they are also – then have an investment, their own livelihood at risk.”—Dianna Bryant, Mid-America Regional Council
This timely discussion aligns with ongoing efforts within RSS to elevate rural policy as a national priority. Bryant’s insights serve as a call to action for policymakers, emergency planners, and community leaders to rethink how disaster response is structured for rural populations.