According to a new federal evaluation, Portland and Lewiston received middling marks for their preparation and planning to prevent and treat pandemic disease. The cities were two of eight in the United States investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The investigation was focused on how ready American communities are for dealing with pandemics, such as H1N1 flu. Its findings weren’t kind. In general, the agency said, readiness plans for pandemic disease had started in earnest, but now exist in various stages of unfinished.

There are concerns of whether this was a fair look. Officials in Maine said the assessment it received stemmed from the use of out-of-date information, and the plain fact that inquiries of this nature — anywhere — will find deficiencies. This seems fair and true enough.

It’s not reassuring, though. Since the avian flu scare several years ago, the unsettling prospect of pandemic diseases has grabbed the attention of policymakers. In 2005, Congress appropriated $500 million to states to spur preparation and planning for pandemics.

These funds were meant to support direct efforts, by state governments and health agencies, to develop detailed response plans for the threat of pandemic. According to the federal DHHS report, the plans were to have been discussed, developed and implemented by August 2008.

But these new reports show work still needs to be done, even though a full-blown pandemic — H1N1 flu — is fast approaching. This begs a simple question: What are we really ready for?

Since beginnings of concern with H1N1, an unsettling undercurrent of resignation about its spread has existed. Advocated precautions have been simple and sensible — hand-washing and avoiding of contact with sick persons — while public information about its virulence has been vague and tightly controlled.

During this time, there has also been a perception of readiness for an outbreak, due largely to the bird flu scare and the sizable federal response that followed. These reports from the inspector general now cast this preparation into doubt.

While we appreciate the complexity of handling a pandemic of this magnitude and concern, we cannot overlook the basic story told by the investigation: that despite plentiful funding, and years of lead time, state and local-level response plans for a pandemic are still insufficient.

So, what are we really ready for? Our local health officials should make this clear.

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