A national group has given Vermont a score of nine out of a possible 10 in preparedness for disease epidemics, disasters and bioterrorism.
The Trust for America’s Health says the state comes up short only in the lack of a medical reserve corps coordinator. The trust’s Liz Richardson says that person makes sure the required personnel are lined up to respond to different types of emergencies.
A state Health Department spokesman says Vermont has a regional coordinator in the southwestern part of the state, but not a statewide one.
Neighboring New Hampshire did Vermont one better, getting a perfect 10 out of 10 on the group’s preparedness report card.
Vermont was one of seven states to score a nine out of 10.