Strategic National Stockpile

The CDC’s Division of Strategic National Stockpile (DSNS) maintains a repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, vaccines, antiviral drugs, and other life-saving medical supplies to supplement state and local public health agencies during public health emergencies. When an emergency occurs, the state assesses the need for SNS assets and requests federal assistance. Upon federal approval to deploy, DSNS collaborates with health officials to identify the required supplies, ship them to the state, and coordinate distribution to local partners through the state's Strategic National Stockpile Program.

The SNS assets are organized for flexible deployment. Push Packages are 50-ton caches of broad-spectrum medical supplies designed for rapid deployment anywhere within the United States or its territories within hours of a federal deployment decision, primarily used when a public health threat is unknown.
Managed Inventory (MI) are targeted supplies maintained by the CDC or contract vendors, designed to arrive within 24 hours to address known threats or resupply deployed Push Packages. And Forward-Deployed Assets contain nerve agent antidotes and radiation medications maintained directly within each state through federal, state, and local partnerships.

The West Virginia Strategic National Stockpile Program continues to refine its response processes across all levels of government to ensure the protection of West Virginia’s residents and visitors during public health events.

For more information, contact Medical Countermeasures Coordinator here.