Ready or Not? Mostly Not: America’s Preparedness Report Card

This week, Dr. Nadine Gracia discusses the 2026 Ready or Not Report with us, highlighting the state of the U.S. public health preparedness amidst recent challenges like funding cuts, workforce shortages, and natural disasters. The conversation emphasizes the importance of sustained investment, coordination, and policy actions to enhance emergency response systems and protect communities.

Watch the convo on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s0YAQfZ_1go

https://www.tfah.org/report-details/ready-or-not-2026/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnadinegracia/

(00:00) Intro
(03:04) The Importance Of the Ready Or Not Report
(04:42) The Hantavirus Outbreak
(06:14) Scoring Criteria for the Report
(10:24) How Did We Do As A Country Compared To Prior Years?
(12:20) Areas For Improvement In Public Health
(14:53) What Does "Federal Funding" Actually Mean?
(18:32) What If We Are In A "Low Tier" State?
(21:01) The Importance Of Other Indicators Such As Paid Sick Leave
(27:46) Recommendations For Improving Emergency Preparedness
(30:21) Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAPA)
(34:23) Final Thoughts

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