cities readiness initiative wichita kansas

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CRI Key Facts

The Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is a federally funded effort to prepare major US cities and metropolitan areas to effectively respond to a large scale bioterrorist event by dispensing antibiotics to their entire identified population within 48 hours of the decision to do so.  CRI aids state and local officials in developing plans that support mass dispensing drugs to 100% of the identified population within 48 hours of a decision to do so. CRI provides funding to states, whose CRI jurisdictions cover 500 counties. This means that 56% of the US population lives within a CRI jurisdiction.

CRI Cities and Metropolitan Areas:

CRI cities and metropolitan areas (MSAs) are selected based on population, geographical location, and potential vulnerability to a bioterrorism threat.

CRI Expansion:

The CRI project started in 2004 and has grown each year thereafter:

  • 2004: CRI started with 21 cities
  • 2005: CDC funded 15 additional cities, for a total of 36 CRI cities
  • 2006: CDC funded an additional 36 cities, for a total of 72 participating cities, and at least 1 CRI city in each state

Funding:

Funding for CRI is provided through CDC's Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement. The funding is provided to enhance the mass dispensing capabilities of the CRI cities and MSAs.

CRI Federal Partners

CDC's Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), Division of Strategic National Stockpile is the operational lead, while COTPER's Division of State and Local Readiness (DSLR) provides fiscal oversight.

In addition, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is working with select CRI cities to develop Postal Plans, in which mail carriers will deliver antibiotics to the homes in selected zip codes. This option is only available to jurisdictions with an approved USPS Dispensing Plan.