Wal-Mart, Colorado Department of Health launch statewide emergency preparedness program

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are pairing up to increase the number of Coloradans who create emergency-preparedness kits for their homes, offices and cars.

From March 1 through March 9, residents can visit Colorado's 64 Wal-Marts and 15 Sam's Clubs to view sample emergency preparedness kits on display and pick up an informational brochure, available in English and Spanish, which includes a checklist of supplies needed to create a kit.

Volunteers from the Colorado Public Health and Medical Volunteer System will distribute brochures and answer questions.

At the end of the campaign, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club locations will donate emergency kit items to the National Organization on Disability's Emergency Preparedness Initiative, which helps people with disabilities be prepared.

More than half the population is not prepared for emergencies, said Chris Lindley, director of the state health department's Emergency Preparedness and Response Division.

In February, a state of emergency was declared in Park County, after snowstorms left 100 residents without access to food and ohter supplies, which the health department says is a reminder that emergencies can arise at any time and leave people without basic necessities.