NCJ Number
199967
Date Published
April 2003
Length
53 pages
Annotation
This report provides information on State and local preparedness for a bioterrorist attack, along with State and local concerns regarding the Federal role in funding and improving preparedness.
Abstract
To obtain this information, investigators from the General Accounting Office visited seven cities and their respective State governments, reviewed documents, and interviewed officials. Findings show varying levels of preparedness to respond to a bioterrorist attack among State and local jurisdictions. Officials reported deficiencies in capacity, communication, and coordination, inadequacies in disease surveillance and laboratory systems, and a lack of regional coordination and compatible communications systems. Some elements, such as those that involve coordination efforts and communication systems, were being addressed more readily; whereas, the infrastructure and workforce issues have been more difficult to address because they are more resource-intensive. Cities with more experience in dealing with public health emergencies were generally better prepared for a bioterrorist attack than other cities, although deficiencies exist in every city. This report recommends that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, develop specific benchmarks that define adequate preparedness for a bioterrorist attack, so they can be used by jurisdictions to guide their preparedness efforts. It also recommends that these departments develop a mechanism for evaluating and sharing useful solutions to problems among jurisdictions. Appended data on bioterrorism preparedness in the seven case cities