$613,610,342 have been awarded to 50 states, 8 US territories and Pacific Island areas and four major metropolitan areas by the HSS (US Dept of Health and Human Services) to help boost the country’s public health emergency preparedness.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), which is part of HHS, administers the PHEP (Public Health Emergency Preparedness) cooperative agreement. It supports state, local and territorial health authorities in achieving 15 health preparedness capabilities, among other activities aimed at protecting communities in health emergency situations.

Ali S. Khan, M.D., the director of CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, said:

“State and local public health departments have made tremendous advances in public health preparedness and response since the 9- 11 terrorist attacks. The terrorist attacks highlighted the importance of health security and the need to expand the federal government’s investments in state and local public health preparedness. These funds work to secure the nation from all public health threats.”

A CDC report on preparedness indicates that considerable progress has been made to improve the country’s public health preparedness and response capabilities as far as laboratory testing is concerned. Improvements have also been achieved in dispensing medical assets from the Strategic National Stockpile and other sources.

The new PHEP cooperative agreement concentrates on improving public health preparedness for:

  • Community preparedness
  • Emergency operations coordination
  • Emergency public information and warning
  • Medical countermeasure dispensing
  • Public health laboratory testing
  • Public health surveillance and epidemiological investigation
  • Responder safety and health

According to the HHS, the PHEP cooperative agreement has implemented new strategies learned during the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic response. Health departments have been encouraged to develop and put into practice strategies for an effective response, at both state and local emergency levels.

The cooperative agreement also awards funds to 10 urban areas to develop medical, mental/behavioral risk assessments, risk mitigation, and public health strategies.

CDC PHEP Cooperative Agreement Fiscal Year 2011 Funding Awardees:

  • Alabama – $8,633,983
  • Alaska – $5,177,600
  • American Samoa – $374,003
  • Arizona – $11,894,861
  • Arkansas – $6,469,981
  • California – $41,661,534
  • Chicago – $10,409,823
  • Colorado – $9,397,930
  • Connecticut – $7,553,479
  • Delaware – $5,422,932
  • District of Columbia – $6,730,903
  • Florida – $27,687,829
  • Georgia – $15,653,814
  • Guam – $501,200
  • Hawaii – $5,260,290
  • Idaho – $5,181,907
  • Illinois – $16,845,953
  • Indiana – $11,146,909
  • Iowa – $6,595,869
  • Kansas – $6,595,020
  • Kentucky – $8,275,695
  • Los Angeles County – $20,404,916
  • Louisiana – $8,632,297
  • Maine – $5,206,160
  • Marshall Islands – $372,756
  • Maryland – $11,057,196
  • Massachusetts – $13,459,602
  • Michigan – $16,543,509
  • Micronesia – $421,144
  • Minnesota – $10,842,711
  • Mississippi – $6,565,242
  • Missouri – $10,717,722
  • Montana – $5,178,911
  • Nebraska – $5,234,954
  • Nevada – $6,585,802
  • New Hampshire – $5,398,877
  • New Jersey – $16,184,853
  • New Mexico – $6,526,120
  • New York – $19,284,669
  • New York City – $19,243,835
  • North Carolina – $14,020,450
  • North Dakota – $5,180,405
  • Northern Mariana Islands – $358,054
  • Ohio – $17,618,925
  • Oklahoma – $7,509,542
  • Oregon – $7,829,790
  • Palau – $323,450
  • Pennsylvania – $19,774,638
  • Puerto Rico – $7,473,561
  • Rhode Island – $5,302,058
  • South Carolina – $9,308,851
  • South Dakota – $5,169,600
  • Tennessee – $10,845,628
  • Texas – $37,545,665
  • Utah – $6,464,082
  • Vermont – $5,192,031
  • Virgin Islands (U.S.) – $423,822
  • Virginia – $14,483,987
  • Washington – $11,711,066
  • West Virginia – $5,336,731
  • Wisconsin – $11,235,615
  • Wyoming – $5,169,600
  • TOTAL FY 2011 PHEP FUNDING – $613,610,342

Written by Christian Nordqvist