Washington ? States that routinely deal with hurricanes and other natural disasters are better prepared than others to handle bioterrorism, but overall the nation is struggling to develop plans for public health emergencies.

Florida and North Carolina, both familiar with evacuating residents and distributing emergency aid, received top rankings in a study by the private Trust for America’s Health. Alaska and Massachusetts got the lowest ratings, despite infusions of federal aid designed to improve emergency responsiveness.

Overall, the report found that states were slowly becoming better prepared to handle bioterrorism, but most still lacked statewide response plans. Federal planning money is declining.

The report echoed fears voiced by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, in announcing his resignation this month, that he couldn’t understand why terrorists haven’t attacked the country’s food supply because it would be “so easy to do.”

The review also follows a year in which the country faced a shortage of flu vaccines, normally a routine protection.

Combating bioterrorism is the weakest link in homeland security, said Lowell Weicker Jr., president of Trust for America’s Health.

“We’re not ready, and I see no excuses as to why we shouldn’t be,” said Weicker, who served three terms in the Senate. He said that while the report focused on bioterrorism, it also showed the country was ill-prepared to deal with daily public health emergencies

The report issued Tuesday found only six states were adequately prepared to distribute vaccines in emergencies, but it named only three of them: Florida, Illinois and Louisiana.