by Deirdre Beluan, CEO The Health Collaborative
In an era marked by escalating natural disasters, public health crises, and infrastructure vulnerabilities, Ohio’s emergency preparedness infrastructure stands as a critical safeguard for its residents. However, recent federal budget proposals threaten to erode this essential framework, leaving communities exposed and ill-equipped to respond to emergencies.
For over 20 years, The Health Collaborative has been charged with leading the Southwest Ohio Tri-State Disaster Preparedness Coalition, which ensures the area is prepared for and ready to respond/recover from disasters, public health emergencies, and other catastrophic events that impact the over 2 million people. The Coalition provides everything from specialized staff training and exercises to coordination and operational support during emergencies, all to mitigate impact and save lives.
President Trump’s proposed budget eliminates the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), the federal funding that allows Tri-State Disaster Preparedness Coalition to exist.
The Coalition does the kind of work behind the scenes that most of us don’t have to think about. Life-saving acts that keep people in our communities safe. Things like:
- Securing generators for local long-term care facilities during an extreme weather
- Coordinating resources during the 2024 IV fluid shortage
- Managing behind-the-scenes communication during the latest potential measles incident
This work (and much more) ensures stakeholders stay informed and ready to respond.
The erosion of emergency preparedness funding not only compromises immediate response efforts but also undermines long-term resilience. Investments in preparedness are cost-effective, reducing the human life and economic toll of disasters. As climate change intensifies and public health threats evolve, the need for sustained and reliable funding becomes increasingly important.
In short, this is what we will face if the program is eliminated:
- Lives at risk — Poor coordination will directly lead to preventable deaths during emergencies.
- Significant economic costs – High recovery and expenses, overwhelmed hospitals and lost productivity.
- Breakdown of trusted partnerships — Loss of long-standing relationships that ensure fast, coordinated responses.
- Fewer resources weakens hospital capacity when they’re needed most — Critical shortages in personnel, equipment (like ventilators, tents, and generators) supplies, and funding during crises.
- Spread of misinformation — Without unified messaging, the public is more vulnerable to confusion and harmful misinformation.
- No clear ownership — Without a defined structure, no one takes responsibility, and response efforts stall.
It is critical that Ohio policymakers recognize the importance of emergency preparedness and prioritize funding to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. This comparatively modest investment yields substantial returns by strengthening community resilience. Failure to act exposes the public to unnecessary risk and leaves the state dangerously unprepared for future crises.
Please let your federal legislators know that investing in emergency preparedness and coordination is critical for safe and thriving communities and they must protect the Hospital Preparedness Program that funds the Tri-State Disaster Preparedness Coalition.
