Economy threatens disaster preparedness

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. economic crisis and state budget cuts threaten states' ability to respond to natural and man-made disasters, a report issued Tuesday purports.

The report, "Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism," was sponsored by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Stateline.org reported.

The report said federal aid for disaster preparedness has dropped by 25 percent since 2003.

"The 25 percent cut in federal support to protect Americans from diseases, disasters and bioterrorism is already hurting state response capabilities," said Jeff Levi, the trust's executive director.

Louisiana, devastated by Hurricane Katrina three years go, is now the state best-equipped to handle emergencies, while Arizona is the worst, the report said.

New Hampshire, North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin were among the best prepared states, while Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Montana and Nebraska ranked near the bottom.