Brenda Dale, manager of emergency preparedness and response at the Tulsa Health Department, said the report is not a true reflection of preparedness at the local level, adding that the report looks at the entire state as a whole and that some of the criteria are outside the capabilities of some communities.

“I think we have a strong foundation in our all hazards approach,” Dale said, referring to the Tulsa area. “We are probably better prepared than the state, overall, because we’re focusing on our county, our community.”

She said that all health agencies have room for improvement and that a lot of it comes down to funding.

“You always need to look at what threats we are vulnerable to, whether it’s emerging infectious disease or diseases that are ongoing that we may have thought we have under control,” Dale said. “In order to maintain a certain level of preparedness, you have to have funding. You have to be able to convince the federal, state and local governments that there is a need to be prepared at all levels.”

The annual report is released in an effort to examine the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies and track progress and vulnerabilities.