By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ preparedness for a public health emergency is among the best in the nation, according to a new report.

The seventh annual “Ready or Not?” report, released today by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that Arkansas was one of eight states that met nine out of 10 key indicators for preparedness. No state met all 10.

The only indicator Arkansas did not meet was the ability to assure the timely pick-up and delivery of disease samples 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The report is based on data from publicly available sources and public officials.

The other seven states with a 9-out-of-10 score were Delaware, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Vermont.

“While we are pleased with our score, we know that being ready for public health emergencies is important to the health of all Arkansans,” state Public Health Officer Paul Halverson said today. “Whether it’s the H1N1 flu pandemic or the ice storms, floods and tornadoes we have faced over the last few years, we must continue to build our capacity, train and plan for the future with care.”

Nearly two-thirds of states scored a 7 or less, and 20 states scored a 6 or less.

“The H1N1 outbreak has vividly revealed existing gaps in public health emergency preparedness,” Richard Hamburg, deputy director of the Trust for America’s Health, said in a news release. “The ‘Ready or Not?’ report shows that a Band-Aid approach to public health is inadequate.”

Hamburg said the second wave of H1N1 is starting to dissipate, but that does not mean the nation can let down its defenses.

“In fact, it’s time to double down and provide a sustained investment in the underlying infrastructure, so we will be prepared for the next emergency and the one after that,” he said.