The United States faces the real possibility of a catastrophic public
health event that involves tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of
victims. Public health emergencies—such as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic,
an intentional anthrax release, infectious disease threats such as severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes—
highlight the ever-changing threats posed by acts of terrorism
and other public health emergencies, while also underscoring the pressing
reality of these events. A tremendous effort has been made over the
past decade to prepare for public health emergencies. Many states and
healthcare organizations have developed preparedness plans that include
enhancing surge capacity to increase and maximize available resources
and to manage demand for healthcare services in response to a mass
casualty event.