Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI)
CDC’s Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is a federally funded program designed to enhance preparedness in the nation’s largest population centers where more than 50% of the U.S. population resides. Birmingham was added to the CRI program in 2006. Using CRI funding, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and JCDH Emergency Preparedness and Response develop, test, and maintain plans to quickly receive and distribute life-saving medicine and medical supplies from the nation’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to local communities within Jefferson County following a large-scale public health emergency.
In the beginning of the program, CRI focused on the response to an anthrax attack. As a result of lessons learned from recent natural disasters and disease outbreaks, CRI jurisdictions are now preparing to respond to any type of public health emergency.