New York State ranks fifth in readiness for emergencies, states the National Health Security Preparedness Index.
The five-year-old Index scores states ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a variety of disasters, from terrorism to natural disasters, to health security, and antibiotic resistance, writes Joe Dziemianowicz for the New York Daily News. Taken into account are 140 measures – number of pediatricians, status of infrastructure, and how organizations train together to prepare for emergencies.
New York and Vermont tied for fifth place with a score of 7.6 out of a possible 10. In third place was Massachusetts with a 7.7 score. Virginia scored 7.8 and Maryland 8.0. Lowest place went to Nevada and Alaska, tied with 6.4. The national average was 7.1.
All National Health Security Preparedness Index results can be found here.
Scores are on the upswing since the Index was started in 2013.
