Individuals who create and help implement those activities that reduce vulnerability to natural and manmade hazards and disasters in public and private sector organizations at the local, county, state, regional, national, and international levels.

The process of extending central station electric service through a network of transmission and distribution lines to make electricity readily available for use where needed. This article describes the difficult task of electrifying the vast rural areas of the U.S.

Adults age 65 or older. A brief profile of adults age 65 or older who live in rural America is provided and the state of knowledge about important aspects of growing old in a rural environment is summarized in this article.

The buildings, both permanent and mobile, that house the process of educating youth. This entry discusses the current conditions of rural facilities including statistics, consolidation and cooperative options, multiple use issues and technological advances.

The content or subject matter taught in a school or similar setting. Basic concepts of curriculum and how it is differentiated from instruction are explored in this article in order to appreciate the uniqueness of rural school curricula.

The academic preparation of rural students in kindergarten through grade 12; elementary- and secondarylevel instruction.

Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, intended to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 2004).

The part-time participation of learners 17 years old and over in college courses, in service training, developmental and basic education, and literacy programs.

Planned strategies used to enhance community residents’ lives, individually and corporately, through improved employment, service and housing opportunities.

Cultivated agriculture in areas where potential water use by plants exceeds growing season precipitation (Stewart et al., 2006). Water deficiency is the primary limitation to plant production in dryland farming.

A deficiency of precipitation that results in a water shortage for some activity.

The infliction of physical, sexual, and/or emotional injury on a member or members of one’s family or household.

The allocation of domestic chores within the home, specifically unpaid labor as performed by spouses.

Steps taken to create awareness, increase safety and lessen negative consequences of a disaster.

The generation of jobs, income and wealth to improve the quality of life of community residents.

Mobilizing underutilized local resources to enhance the quality of life of community residents.

Geographic areas characterized by extreme climatic conditions including very low precipitation and temperature extremes with great diurnal and seasonal variability. 

Relying on others to meet one’s needs due to socioeconomic limitations or personal inabilities in providing for oneself.

The branch of the United States Government that is directed “to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur” (National Priorities Project, 2007).

The organization and provision of services, including health education and promotion, to meet the preventive, acute, chronic and long-term oral health needs of a population.

The dispersion or delegation of decision-making authority and management to more than one person or decision-making body;

Foods made from milk. This article discusses milk composition and the processing techniques by which dairy products are made. Some of these dairy products include fluid milk, cheese, frozen desserts, butter, dry milk, yogurt, condensed milk products and byproducts.

A specialized type of agricultural business where fluid milk is the principal source of family income.

In the broadest sense, includes the practices, objects, beliefs, and values that constitute a way of life for rural people. Culture shapes what people in rural places do, think, feel, and believe.