So, what if they knew for sure it would get here? What would be the prevention? Close off travel sooner from China? So, people would detour in Europe and still get here before the symptoms hit.
Send people there to contain it? Again, pointless.
Nuke Wuhan and fry the virus and several million? Probably not.
Completely close the borders to everyone. US citizens could reenter directly to a remote quarantine designated area for 3 weeks. Considering where we are today, that would have been the best approach.

First of all, it probably started in November, way before they sent official notification.