Rural health officials believe they are unprepared to respond to a possible terror attack on food supplies, nuclear power facilities or other targets. A survey of health officials in 26 states also found that most rural areas would not be prepared for a bioterror attack or have the resources to handle a surge of people fleeing urban areas under assault. The study, sponsored in part by the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Pittsburgh, comes as the Department of Homeland Security is proposing awarding federal aid to states and localities based on the level of threats they face. Small and rural states fear such an approach would dramatically cut funding for their emergency responders. The survey listed a number of vulnerabilities unique to
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