The Conference of Mayors has published the results of a survey investigating the current state of US disaster preparedness. Responses were received from 183 cities representing 38 states in the nation, and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Cities with populations up to 100,000 comprised the largest group of respondents (104); cities in 100,001 to 300,000 population range comprised the next largest group (49). Twenty-nine (30) respondents were in the 300,001 and up range.

Key findings of the survey included:

1. When asked have cities received sufficient federal resources to achieve full communications interoperability, 80 percent said no. This figure was fairly consistent for all population ranges.

2. When then asked how far away cities are from having full communications interoperability, the average response was four years.

3. When asked how much each city's level of disaster preparedness has improved since 9/11 - with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest amount of improvement - the average response was 6.3.

4. When asked if cities have recently created or updated an evacuation plan, 56 percent replied ‘yes’. This number climbed to 73 percent for the largest cities.

5. When asked about the level of confidence that FEMA will respond quickly in the event of a major disaster, the average response on a scale of 1-10 was 5.2.

6. As to the level of confidence that each city is prepared to survive on its own for up to 72 hours following a disaster, the average response was 6.9 on the same scale.

7. When asked if the federal government, or the city, has established a plan with a nearby military base to provide personnel and equipment to help stabilize a city in an emergency, 72 percent replied ‘no’.

8. As to whether or not cities have been notified that a Principal Federal Official has been pre-assigned to work with them in the event of a disaster, 72 percent said ‘no’. However, this number jumped to 60 percent ‘yes’ for the larger cities.

9. When asked if cities are prepared to handle a ‘flu pandemic on their own - for days and possibly weeks - 70 percent replied ‘no’. This response was almost exactly the same for all population groupings.

10. Finally, when asked has the federal government or the state contacted each city to discuss a possible pandemic flu outbreak, the average response was 69 percent ‘yes’, climbing to 87 percent ‘yes’ for the larger cities.

http://www.usmayors.org

•Date: 2nd August 2006• Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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