State health officials are asking all Coloradans to get ready for a three-day emergency that would cut off our access to grocery stores and pharmacies — be it a winter snowstorm, flu pandemic, or biological attack.
In a campaign launched this week with national retailer Wal-Mart, Colorado officials are asking people to buy what they need to build emergency kits in homes, cars and offices.
A kit should include water, food, medicines, blankets and flashlights, and could cost about $200, said Chris Lindley, the state health department’s emergency preparedness and response director.
Many kit components, however, are already on people’s shelves, he said.
“We’ve tried doing this many ways since 9-11, partnering with many kinds of organizations,” Lindley said.
“What we still find in Colorado and elsewhere around the country is that this message is either not being heard of or people are not taking action.”
The state’s emergency preparedness web site, , now has Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs logos — and a button to click to find the nearest store.
Consumer health advocates said they’re not worried about the state’s newest partnership.
“Even though I won’t shop at Wal-Mart because of some of their policies, I think Wal-Mart is doing a public service here,” said Nancy Gilbert, the emergency preparedness manager for the Colorado Community Health Network, a Denver non-profit representing the state’s 14 Community Health Centers.
“Statistics show that in emergencies, lower-income folks are the hardest hit either because of where they live, or because they’re least likely to put together these kinds of kits,” Gilbert said.
Katy Human: 303-954-1910 or khuman@denverpost.com
