Including extreme weather in rural community health planning
Integrating Extreme Weather Impacts into a Community Health Assessment for Rural Communities
This project adds extreme-weather information into regional health planning so hospitals and public health teams in rural Appalachian communities can better protect local residents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146617 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll see local hospitals, public health departments, community members, and environmental scientists working together to bring extreme weather data into regional health assessments. The team will combine local weather records with health and community information, map areas of heightened risk, and hold meetings to identify local priorities. They will co-design communications training for health professionals so messaging about heat, floods, and storms is clearer and more useful for residents. The focus is on rural Southern Appalachian counties to strengthen local systems that respond to weather-related health problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents of rural Southern Appalachian counties and patients served by local hospitals and public health departments who want to help shape weather-related health planning.
Not a fit: People living outside the targeted rural Appalachian region or those with health concerns unrelated to weather exposures may not receive direct benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people in the region could get clearer warnings, better-prepared clinics, and more relevant health advice during extreme weather events.
How similar studies have performed: Some local programs have linked weather and health effectively, but integrating extreme-weather data into regional community health assessments in rural Appalachia is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- North Carolina State University Raleigh — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Runkle, Jennifer D. — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Runkle, Jennifer D.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.