Unprepared After Tens of Billions of Federal Grant Funding

We are “Unprepared” for any large-scale disaster, despite tens of Billions of dollars spent by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other Federal agencies that have been tasked with preparing America for major disasters. DHS itself has advised states and local Governments to prepare for 15 Federal Planning Scenarios. http://tiny.cc/cekws

While tens of Billions have been expended,the manner in which Congress has mandated that the disaster preparedness dollars be distributed, have diluted the value of this huge investment. Instead of a funding stream that mirrors the capabilities needed by cities, states and the federal response agencies, the money was pushed down to states for future distribution to cities. Also, instead of financing Readiness on the basis of risk, the money went to states and cities based on population.

By diluting Readiness grant dollars to states and a few large urban centers, Congress and Federal Agencies can assert that “We have spent Billions of dollars in Preparedness and Readiness for future disasters. The fact is states and local governments will undoubtedly require a robust Federal response to large-scale disaster,but since the money is spent, there are very few Federal assets that can be usefully deployed to future disaster areas. Below are just a few illustrations of just how “Unprepared” we truly are.

1.If there is a nuclear detonation of a 10Kiloton nuclear device in a major US City (DHS Planning Scenario #1.): There will be no large scale evacuation of the living away from high-radiological zones to safe areas. Result: People who could easily survive if given antidote and quickly removed from high levels of radiation will absorb ever larger levels of radiation until hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans will die where they lie from acute radiation sickness.
Solution: FEMA must develop mass evacuation and resettlement plans and Health and Human Services must purchase and manage mobile disaster hospitals and specialty treatment centers.

2. If we have a widespread well coordinated biological attack on our food supply (DHS scenario #13) America has no Strategic Food Inventory to provide food to Americans while scientists and food inspectors can ascertain which portions of our food supply is safe to eat. We have a strategic petroleum reserve to bridge a disruption of oil from major oil producers, but if an attack by well trained terror cells infiltrates major food processing centers, Americans will be no longer be confident of what we eat.
Solution: USDA must purchase a 30 day supply of meals ready to eat or similar long-shelf life food products AND develop food purchase programs with our allies to keep Americans fed until the American food supply is certified as safe.

3. If we have a worldwide killer Pandemic (DHS planning scenario #3):The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have no mobile hospitals and no meaningful medical supplies and equipment inventories to bolster our already overloaded and heavily stressed healthcare system.

In the 1960s the Federal Government had 2,000 packaged disaster hospitals to bolster the private healthcare system during large scale disasters and catastrophes. Each hospital had 200 beds, three operating rooms and an X-Ray machine. Each hospital also had a high-output power generator. In addition each hospital had enough equipment and supplies to function without resupply for 30 days. By day 30, sustainment supplies would come from Defense Supply Agency depots-those closed in 1992 as a part of the Peace Dividend of the Clinton Administration. Today the Federal government has some mobile beds and cot and blanket sets called Federal Medical Stations which contain no meaningful inventories except first aid supplies.
Solution: Build and manage mobile disaster hospitals and build inventories of lifesaving supplies and equipment which can be stored in secure facilities and rapidly deployed to the disaster location.

4. If we experience a well coordinated series of terrorist suicide attacks on subways, train stations etc in DC, New York, Philadelphia and other large cities’ transportation systems Federal planning Scenario #12 (I have no idea why this scenario is #12): Healthcare Systems, Hospitals and Medical Centers will collapse under the pressure of enormous spikes in demand for trauma care, wound and burn care, blood and tissue supplies, orthopedic surgery and all other specialty care supplies and equipment.
Solution: The solution outlined in 3 above will also fulfill this requirement.

These are just a few Federal Planning Scenarios that the Department of Homeland Security has forecasted since 2004, yet as a Nation, we are almost as unprepared now as we were on 9-11. Worse, we have not learned lessons from hurricane Katrina and hurricane Ike in managing the healthcare needs of large numbers of persons, especially those with disabilities and chronic illnesses. When the next large-scale disaster occurs, we will have tons of receipts, but little ability to save lives and communities.