That's not by design. It's just that Liberals tend to gather in big cities (to be closer to the free cheese and welfare money, and so not to hassled for crapping on the sidewalks). Most Liberal cities and states are run by Liberal mayors and governors, the most incompetent morons on the planet, so they are never ready for emergencies.
Don't feel too bad, though. This plague could totally depopulate Austin, Texas and kill off half the population of Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
Texas could be solid Red, politically for several generations.
AS for New York, Trump has worked so hard to help out its poor ignorant governor, that he, Trump, may carry the state in the November election.