Study: R.I. scores above national average in emergency preparedness

A STUDY BY the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on states' levels of emergency preparedness found that Rhode Island outperformed the national average. / COURTESY ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island tops the national average when it comes to emergency preparedness, and continues to improve its capability to protect residents, according to a study released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Ocean State scored a 7.2 on a 10-point scale measured by the 2019 National Health Security Preparedness Index, compared with a score of 6.7 for the United States. The study analyzes states’ ability to protect residents during outbreaks of disease, terrorism and extreme weather.

Nearly 130 factors were examined, including bridges in good condition, whether hazard planning is done in public schools, and the number of paramedics and hospitals in each state.

Researchers used data gathered from public health experts, emergency management, business leaders, health care organizations and other sources to create six final categories.

- Advertisement -

Rhode Island’s scores compared with nationwide averages in each category:

  • Health security surveillance: Rhode Island 7.6, national average 8.3
  • Community planning and engagement: Rhode Island 6.7, national average 5.2
  • Incident and information management: Rhode Island 8.5, national average 8.7
  • Health care delivery: Rhode Island 5.7, national average 4.9
  • Countermeasure engagement: Rhode Island 8.3, national average 6.5
  • Environmental and occupational health: Rhode Island 6.3, national average 5.9

Rhode Island’s scores in each category showed improvement from 2013, the study showed.

The state’s public health security hazards from 2012 through 2017 included a coastal storm that killed one person, heat that also claimed one life, severe lightning that injured three and high winds that injured two. During that time period, the state also experienced severe winter weather and thunderstorms, along with flooding, but reported no injuries, the study showed.

Researchers estimate it will take 10 years for the entire country to reach a strong health security level of at least 9.0.

“We are seeing some promising national numbers when it comes to our nation’s ability to cope with health emergencies,” Alonzo Plough, chief science officer at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said. “Disasters like recent major hurricanes show that to take the next step in increasing our preparedness levels, we must focus on improving equity within our efforts.”

States with above-average scores are clustered in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest and Central Rocky Mountain regions, while below-average states are grouped in the south-central region of the country, Upper Mountain West, Pacific Coast and Midwest.

The foundation collaborated with more than 30 organizations to produce the index.

No posts to display