The many ways Indiana is not prepared to handle disasters

Good thing those California wildfires or the Florida hurricanes didn’t happen in Indiana.

Indiana scores in the bottom fifth of states when it comes to being prepared to handle a public health emergency, such as either of these natural disasters or an infectious disease outbreak.

Scoring just three out of 10 indicators of preparedness, Indiana was among the worst states in the nation, according to the annual study released Tuesday by the Trust for America’s Health. Only Alaska, with a mere two out of 10, performed worse.

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Last year, Indiana performed much better, scoring in the middle of the pack, by meeting seven out of 10 indicators. This year’s “Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism” report used different measures than the 2016 assessment.

The state’s hospitals, 70 percent or more of whom met the standards of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program, help Indiana stay out of the cellar. This program sets guidelines for appropriate use of antibiotics in an effort to prevent bacteria from developing resistance to the drugs.

Indiana also received checks because the state public health lab had a biosafety professional on staff and provided either biosafety training or information about such training to staff.

The list of measures on which Indiana failed, however, was far longer. The state did not increase or maintain funding for public health, as 19 other states and the District of Columbia did. It did not increase its overall preparedness score, as did 33 other states. Nor is the public health department here accredited, as opposed to those of 30 other states plus the District of Columbia.

Fewer than half, or 43.6 percent of the state’s residents older than six months, were vaccinated in the last flu season, making the state the 15th lowest on that measure.

The state does not have an enhanced nurse licensure compact, which allows nurses who are licensed in states under the compact to practice without getting an additional license. The state has not joined the U.S. Climate Alliance to reduce greenhouse gas nor does it offer paid sick leave.

Nine other states scores a 3 out of 10 and 25 scored a 5 or lower. Massachusetts and Rhode Island scored the highest, hitting the mark on nine out of 10 measures.

Call IndyStar staff reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.