Ohio gets 8 of 10 in disaster readiness

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new study gives Ohio an 8 out of a possible score of 10 for its readiness to handle disease epidemics, disasters or bioterrorism.

The report released Tuesday by the nonprofit Trust For America’s Health faults Ohio for not having a law to protect health care volunteers serving in a public health emergency from expensive lawsuits. The group also says the state’s public health lab would likely fall short in a flu pandemic.

Ohio meets other criteria, such as having an adequate plan to distribute emergency vaccines and a having sufficient stockpile of medication in case of a serious flu outbreak.

Five states — Virginia, Louisiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Wisconsin — received perfect scores. No state met fewer than five of the 10 criteria.