Bush and Public Health Emergency Preparedness. Interesting read.

Bush and Public Health Emergency Preparedness. Interesting read.


But most of the money they threw at us was bioterrorism
money. And I do mean they threw it at us. We had so much bioterrorism
money (BT) that most large health departments (which are largely local
animals -- city-run or county-run) formed whole sections in their
departments, fully staffed and rolling in money such that the staff
couldn't even spend fast enough.

And this for a problem that didn't exist, of course.
There was no bioterrorism.

But we did use the money wisely, on emergency
planning and resourcing. Every public health worker was trained in
emergency management. Our public health lab was expanded and highly
improved. And of course as you know, California has earthquakes, so we
broadened the emergency management training protocols to include natural
disasters, which are infinitely more likely than a massive bioterrorism
attack, I'm sure every sane person would agree.

That massive public health response to the Bird Flu
in 2009? That was due to the expansive program of emergency management
across the US almost entirely funded by bioterrorism money. So
ultimately the money didn't go to waste.

MORE:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/bush-and-public-health-emergency-preparedness