Kansas Ranked at the Bottom for Health Disaster Prep

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A national survey ranks Kansas at the bottom among states in being prepared for public health emergencies, terrorism incidents and natural disasters.

But state officials took issue Wednesday with the latest, annual "Ready or Not?" report from the nonpartisan Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It gave Kansas and Montana the lowest scores, three on a 10-point scale.

Kansas Division of Emergency Management spokeswoman Sharon Watson said the state has responded successfully to numerous natural disasters and other states routinely seek help from Kansas.

State health department spokeswoman Miranda Steele noted the state’s scores have varied widely in recent years.

The report suggested state regulations for day cares aren’t rigorous enough in requiring written emergency plans, but Steele said centers often consult with local emergency managers.