Washington ? The government began handing out more than $1 billion to states and cities Thursday to help prepare doctors, hospitals and health officials for a bioterrorist attack or other medical disaster.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said it was “the largest one-time investment in our nation’s public health system ever.”

The money is meant to help medical and emergency workers learn more about recognizing the signs of a bioterrorist attack or other disease outbreak and how to respond.

D.A. Henderson, the agency’s director of public health preparedness, urged local governments to put the money to use quickly because of the danger of an act of bioterrorism.

The money can pay to improve labs, train doctors, upgrade computers, prepare hospitals to treat a huge influx of sick or injured, and other planning.

“These funds are vital to Kansas’ ability to respond to a biological attack,” said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. “We need to make sure that our communities have the training and equipment necessary to detect and deter a potential attack. It is also vital that first responders are prepared to protect the public in the event of an act of terrorism.”

The state allotments range from $6.5 million for Wyoming, with the smallest population, to $69.7 million for California, the most populous. Plus, Los Angeles County will be eligible for an additional $27.9 million. Kansas will get $12.2 million.

Three other cities will get their own money for bioterrorism planning and creating regional hospital plans: New York, $25.8 million; Chicago, $12.7 million; and Washington, $12 million.

About $14.6 million of the nearly $1.1 billion also will go to 49 cities to help them prepare plans under an existing emergency preparedness program.