CDC’s Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is a federally funded program designed to enhance preparedness in the nation’s largest population centers where more than 50% of the U.S. population resides. Using CRI funding, state and large metropolitan public health departments develop, test, and maintain plans to quickly receive and distribute life-saving medicine and medical supplies from the nation’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)(https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/stockpile/stockpile.htm) to local communities following a large-scale public health emergency.
Initially, the CRI planning scenario was based on a response to a large-scale anthrax attack; however, through continued analysis and lessons learned, it became apparent that CRI jurisdictions must be prepared to respond to other public health emergencies. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act emphasized an all-hazards approach to public health preparedness planning, thereby expanding the scope of the CRI planning to include natural and man-made public health threats.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) provides funding to Sandoval County for Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) planning and preparedness.
Part of this planning and preparedness is developing and maintaining plans for a staging area to received and distribution Medical Countermeasures (MCM) and Points of Dispensing (POD) to dispense the MCMs to the citizens of Sandoval County.
Since 2012, Sandoval County Emergency Management has managed $105,898 under this grant.