Local Officials Back Reduction in Disaster Preparedness Funding

St. Louis has experienced two tornadoes within the last two months. A recent fire led to the evacuation of a new nursing home in Enterprises, Alabama, last month. Meanwhile, Cleveland dealt with a blackout as crowds attended the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four.

In these incidents, local health officials managed aftermaths, supported hospitals, located new residences for displaced individuals, and coordinated efforts with fire services, police, and other municipal sectors.

The total cost of these responses reached approximately $735 million, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The budget proposed by President Trump allocates zero funds for such efforts.

The proposed budget cuts have increased anxiety among health officials, especially following a $12 billion reduction to state and local health agencies in March. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits aiming to stop these cuts.

“Both artificial and natural disasters are not reliant on federal funds, but the response aimed at saving lives certainly is,” stated Dr. Matifha Fratova Davis, Health Director of St. Louis. (Dr. Davis has resigned but will remain until a replacement is appointed.)

The city faces substantial sinkholes and is situated on fault lines prone to floods, in addition to being at risk for earthquakes. “We genuinely depend on this fundraising,” Dr. Davis remarked. Without it, “the entire community of St. Louis and its visitors will stay at risk.”

The Department of Health and Human Services directed budget-related inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not reply to requests for comments.

The funding has garnered interest from local health sectors via the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperation Agreement, established after the September 11, 2001 attacks to prepare for biological threats and other emergencies.

This funding aids authorities in overseeing public health implications of both natural and artificial disasters while also containing infectious disease outbreaks. It also finances salaries of experienced officials tasked with readiness and mitigation of public health issues.

Funding amounts vary by jurisdiction. St. Louis and Cleveland each receive roughly $250,000, covering salaries for three staff members. In comparison, Dallas is allocated nearly $2 million, supporting salaries for 17 employees.

“There’s minimal cushion for these funds, especially at the local level,” noted Dr. Philip Fan, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department in Texas.

If these funds vanish, even larger cities like Dallas will feel the effects. “The smaller the health department, the more pronounced the impact will be,” he explained.

Dr. Davis indicated that her department receives less than 1% of the overall St. Louis city budget. Should CDC public health emergency funds be reduced, Missouri and its cities may need to compensate for the deficit, as current budgets imply.

“These individuals will soon find themselves jobless,” Dr. Davis remarked regarding employees funded through the grant.

In Alabama, emergency response programs are fully financed through federal grants. Winter tornadoes, hurricanes, and ice storms can wreak havoc and necessitate intervention from health authorities.

“Accusations have been made against the Alabama Department of Public Health,” stated Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer.

In several jurisdictions, staff depend on hundreds of volunteers to assist with COVID-19 and MPOX vaccinations. Nevertheless, paid staff is essential for coordinating those activities and training volunteers, Dr. Huang explained.

“You can’t appear before everyone claiming, ‘Yes, I’m a doctor,'” he added. City officials will verify volunteer qualifications and mobilize them for emergencies as needed.

In Cleveland, health officials responsible for preparations receive midnight calls from hospitals regarding potential charcoal or other bacterial infectious threats.

“We’ve encountered numerous challenges with our efforts,” commented Dr. David Margolius, Director of Public Health in Cleveland. “However, it’s always better to be prepared than to be caught off guard.”

Some officials have expressed concern since the election about whether the Trump administration will continue funding for these programs. However, they did not anticipate a sudden cessation of funds, as seen with other CDC funding streams.

If Congress implements a funding cut, he noted, “We’ll have to urgently assess their situation.” “It’s entirely unfair for these teams and Cleveland residents to rely on these services under such circumstances.”