In a widespread emergency or public health crisis, hospitals could be full, emergency responders busy with the most seriously ill and phone lines unavailable.
In other words, help may not be on the way.
“One of our biggest challenges is educating people” about anticipating and preparing for emergencies, said Jim Mallory, a public information officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “People tend to think ‘that ain’t going to happen to me.’ They tend to think that the government will take care of them.”
State and local officials here on Tuesday again stressed the importance of preparing for emergencies large and small during Preparedness Day at the Kansas State Fair.
Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the state’s adjutant general, along with the governor and state health officials, has asked all Kansans to make sure they can be self-sufficient for three to seven days.
The preparations could be useful in the event of tornadoes, ice storms, or even pandemic flu outbreaks.
“We’re no strangers to disasters in this state – we don’t like them – but we know we have them from time to time,” Bunting said. “If we do our part, when the inevitable happens, we will be ready.”
Booths providing information on home, family and personal safety were set up in the shade of a hook and ladder truck, drawing fair goers such as Harvey and Lois Thiessen of Hesston.
The Thiessens said they try to stay on top of the latest recommendations for flu shots and always wash their hands.
But when it comes down to it, “people just need to take care of themselves,” Harvey Thiessen said.
Mallory said FEMA recommends that people put together three sets of emergency kits; one each for home, car, and workplace.
Home kits should be the most complete, with a three- to five-day supply of food and water for each family member and other supplies such as radios, flashlights, and batteries.
“Most people understand that they need to have water, but don’t know that they need a gallon of water per person per day,” Mallory said. “Or they know that they need food, but forget a can opener.”
FEMA also recommends that people pick an out-of-state friend or family member to call in case of a disaster. Local phone lines can be used for local emergency traffic, Mallory said, but long distance lines are often available.
The latest public health concern — the spread of the H1N1 flu virus — has health officials on high alert, said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, the state health director.
The virus could affect as many as 1 million Kansans in the next two years and has already contributed to an unusually high number of flu cases throughout the state this summer.
He applauded the Kansas State Fair staff for stocking multiple stations with hand sanitizers and made it a point to remind fair goers that swine — including those in the show barns on the fairgrounds — were not the cause of the so-called “swine flu.”
“I want to say outright as your state physician that you cannot get the disease from hogs or eating pork,” Eberhart-Phillips said. “Pigs have more to fear from us than we do from them.”
Public education efforts about hand washing and staying healthy seem to be working, said Sheldon Lawrence, of Wichita.
Lawrence, a square dance caller, said he and his wife were careful to wash their hands frequently and get their flu shots because they interact with many people. He also said he has noticed in recent months that hosts of square dances have started bringing hand sanitizer for dancers to use before eating or after dancing.
“I think that helps,” he said. “I know they’re also teaching kids how to wash their hands, which will go a long way. At least people are trying.”
-Sarah Green is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. She can be reached at sgreen@khi.org or at 785-233-5443, ext. 118.