Today's Article
Current means of
gov't assistance do
not fully provide a
'public health and
medical response to
disasters.'
gov't assistance do
not fully provide a
'public health and
medical response to
disasters.'
The American Spark
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America Still Lacks Comprehensive Disaster Relief Plan, Says Gov't
Report
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 5th, 2007
Such events as Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, have revealed gaping
holes in our country's disaster relief plans. Every American may be struck by a sudden disaster--unfortunately
that remains one of the constant truths of life.
Therefore Americans need a decent, comprehensive plan which addresses this clear problem. That our
government still hasn't produced such a plan is both a shock and an outrage.
A September 19th, 2007, Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on America's "Public Health and
Medical Response to Disasters" was recently released to members of Congress. CRS reports are unclassified
studies by this democratic government which are informative, easy-to-read--and currently not made directly
available to the American public. But The American Spark has obtained a copy of this report for our readers.
We quote from the CRS study below:
"When catastrophes overwhelm state and local response capabilities, the President (acting through the
Secretary of Homeland Security) can provide assistance to stricken communities, individuals, governments,
and not-for-profit groups to assist in response and recovery.
"Aid is provided under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(the Stafford Act) upon a presidential declaration.
"The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) also has both standing and emergency authorities in the
Public Health Service (PHS) Act by which he can provide assistance in response to public health and medical
emergencies. He has limited means, however, to finance activities that are ineligible, for whatever reason, for
Stafford Act assistance.
"The flawed response to Hurricane Katrina, and preparedness efforts for an influenza ('flu') pandemic, have
each raised concerns about existing federal response mechanisms for incidents in which there are
overwhelming public health and medical needs.
"In addition, some concerns have been expressed about federal leadership and delegations of responsibility
for the public health and medical response to incidents, as carried out according to the National Response
Plan (NRP). [...]
"Though many public health activities may be funded through Stafford Act assistance when an emergency or
major disaster is declared, Stafford Act assistance is not well-tailored toward the public health and medical
response to disasters.
"Recent incidents — in particular the September 11 and anthrax attacks of 2001, and several Gulf Coast
hurricanes in 2005 — have demonstrated the limitations of Stafford Act assistance in supporting public health
and medical responses.
"First, it is not clear that Stafford Act major disaster assistance is available for the response to infectious
disease threats, whether intentional (bioterrorism) or natural (e.g., pandemic flu).
"Second, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) has authority to draw upon a special fund to
finance departmental activities in response to unanticipated public health emergencies, but there is at present
no money in the fund.
"Finally, there is no existing comprehensive mechanism to provide federal assistance for uninsured or
uncompensated individual healthcare costs that may be incurred as a result of a natural disaster or terrorist
incident, though there is not general agreement that such assistance should be a federal responsibility. [...]
"However, following Hurricane Katrina, Congress provided $2.1 billion for short-term assistance to host states,
through the Medicaid program, to cover the uninsured healthcare needs of eligible
Katrina evacuees.
"Some in Congress have proposed establishing a mechanism to cover certain uninsured healthcare costs of
responders and others exposed at the World Trade Center site in New York City following the 2001 terrorist
attack, some of whom are experiencing related health problems five years after exposure.
"There are [also] concerns about how a public health and medical response would be managed during a flu
pandemic. There is precedent, under the Stafford Act, for the President to declare an infectious disease threat
an emergency (which provides a lower level of assistance), but no similar precedent for a major disaster
declaration (which provides a higher level of assistance).
"In any case, many of the needs likely to result from a flu pandemic could not be met with the types of
assistance provided pursuant to the Stafford Act, even if a major disaster declaration applied."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
Report
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 5th, 2007
Such events as Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, have revealed gaping
holes in our country's disaster relief plans. Every American may be struck by a sudden disaster--unfortunately
that remains one of the constant truths of life.
Therefore Americans need a decent, comprehensive plan which addresses this clear problem. That our
government still hasn't produced such a plan is both a shock and an outrage.
A September 19th, 2007, Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on America's "Public Health and
Medical Response to Disasters" was recently released to members of Congress. CRS reports are unclassified
studies by this democratic government which are informative, easy-to-read--and currently not made directly
available to the American public. But The American Spark has obtained a copy of this report for our readers.
We quote from the CRS study below:
"When catastrophes overwhelm state and local response capabilities, the President (acting through the
Secretary of Homeland Security) can provide assistance to stricken communities, individuals, governments,
and not-for-profit groups to assist in response and recovery.
"Aid is provided under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(the Stafford Act) upon a presidential declaration.
"The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) also has both standing and emergency authorities in the
Public Health Service (PHS) Act by which he can provide assistance in response to public health and medical
emergencies. He has limited means, however, to finance activities that are ineligible, for whatever reason, for
Stafford Act assistance.
"The flawed response to Hurricane Katrina, and preparedness efforts for an influenza ('flu') pandemic, have
each raised concerns about existing federal response mechanisms for incidents in which there are
overwhelming public health and medical needs.
"In addition, some concerns have been expressed about federal leadership and delegations of responsibility
for the public health and medical response to incidents, as carried out according to the National Response
Plan (NRP). [...]
"Though many public health activities may be funded through Stafford Act assistance when an emergency or
major disaster is declared, Stafford Act assistance is not well-tailored toward the public health and medical
response to disasters.
"Recent incidents — in particular the September 11 and anthrax attacks of 2001, and several Gulf Coast
hurricanes in 2005 — have demonstrated the limitations of Stafford Act assistance in supporting public health
and medical responses.
"First, it is not clear that Stafford Act major disaster assistance is available for the response to infectious
disease threats, whether intentional (bioterrorism) or natural (e.g., pandemic flu).
"Second, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) has authority to draw upon a special fund to
finance departmental activities in response to unanticipated public health emergencies, but there is at present
no money in the fund.
"Finally, there is no existing comprehensive mechanism to provide federal assistance for uninsured or
uncompensated individual healthcare costs that may be incurred as a result of a natural disaster or terrorist
incident, though there is not general agreement that such assistance should be a federal responsibility. [...]
"However, following Hurricane Katrina, Congress provided $2.1 billion for short-term assistance to host states,
through the Medicaid program, to cover the uninsured healthcare needs of eligible
Katrina evacuees.
"Some in Congress have proposed establishing a mechanism to cover certain uninsured healthcare costs of
responders and others exposed at the World Trade Center site in New York City following the 2001 terrorist
attack, some of whom are experiencing related health problems five years after exposure.
"There are [also] concerns about how a public health and medical response would be managed during a flu
pandemic. There is precedent, under the Stafford Act, for the President to declare an infectious disease threat
an emergency (which provides a lower level of assistance), but no similar precedent for a major disaster
declaration (which provides a higher level of assistance).
"In any case, many of the needs likely to result from a flu pandemic could not be met with the types of
assistance provided pursuant to the Stafford Act, even if a major disaster declaration applied."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!