A survey of cities in March of 2020, documented the magnitude of the need for vital protective equipment and supplies. Results of the survey provide a timely snapshot of unmet needs confronting cities across the United States today.

Populations of the cities range from under 2,000 to 3.8 million; six of the cities have populations over one million; 45 have populations below 50,000. The survey cities together are home to 42 million people.

•  91.5% of the cities do not have an adequate supply of face masks for their first responders (including police, fire, and EMTs) and medical personnel.

•  88.2% do not have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) other than face masks to protect these workers.

•  92.1% do not have an adequate supply of test kits.

•  85% do not have an adequate supply of ventilators for use by health facilities in their city or area.

•  62.4% have not received emergency equipment or supplies from their State.

•  Of those receiving help from their State, 84.6% say it is not adequate to meet their needs.

For emergency equipment, analysis of these responses by city size found little variation from largest to smallest cities in the percentages of the adequacy of supplies. While a somewhat higher percentage of larger cities reported receiving equipment and supplies from their State, cities reporting inadequacy of these supplies did not vary by size.

NEEDED ARE:

•  28.5 million face masks;

•  24.4 million PPE items;

•  7.9 million test kits; and

•  139,000 ventilators.