Triple-digit temperatures present health concerns for vulnerable populations

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) advises people to use caution during the extreme heat that is anticipated to last for several days.

“The best defense against heat-related illness is prevention,” said KDHE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Lakin. “Staying cool and making simple changes in fluid intake, activities, and clothing during hot weather can help you remain safe and healthy.”

According to the National Weather Service, heath indices are forecasted to be from 100 to 109 degrees in many parts of Kansas through Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that more than 600 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year.

People who face the highest risk of heat-related illness include infants and young children up to four years of age, adults over age 65, people who have chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease or obesity), those taking certain medications and people who work or exercise in extreme heat.

The CDC has some tips for preventing heat-related illness, including:

Stay Cool: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a good way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.

Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak or faint.

Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.

Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting heat stroke or dying.

Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks—these cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.

Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.

Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets and leave the water in a shady area.

Know the Signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.

Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.

For more information on dealing with extreme summer hear, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat

EUREKA EMERGENCY RESPONSE UPDATE

The State Emergency Operations Center continues to coordinate response to Eureka after an E-3 tornado struck the city on June 26. Recovery operations will cease from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. to ensure the safety of those working in the area.  Security will remain on-site overnight.

Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and the adjutant general, and Kansas Department of Transportation’s Secretary Richard Carlson and Deputy Secretary Bryon Harden traveled to Eureka earlier today to tour the damage. They were joined this evening by Governor Dr. Jeff Colyer and visited with local authorities on the response and recovery efforts.

Volunteers will begin citywide cleanup in all areas on Thursday, June 28 at 7 a.m. Volunteers should check in at the Matt Samuels Community Building before starting cleanup.

Westar Energy is reporting 2,800 customers still without power and they are actively working to restore power to all customers.  Westar reports that in storms, sometimes the hardware that houses the electric meter and the wires that feed electricity into a home or business can become detached. This is the square metal box and connecting pole on the side of the house or building. If the hardware is damaged, Westar cannot reconnect the service line between the house and the power grid because it’s not safe. The homeowner is responsible for hiring an electrician to make these repairs before power can be restored to the residence.

The American Red Cross shelter remains open at the Methodist Church, 521 N. Main Street, and is also serving as a cooling station for residents.  The Red Cross and Operation BBQ are providing mobile canteen operations on site.  The American Red Cross is also providing cooling tents for volunteers on-site.

The Kansas Task Force provided search and rescue capabilities overnight and demobilized at 11 a.m. on June 27.

Mutual aid has been provided by Butler, Coffey and Lyon Counties.

Butler County Community Emergency Response Team will be coordinating a Volunteer Reception Center.

Verizon Wireless has deployed their COLT (Cell On Light Trucks) which will be operational on Thursday.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management deployed the following assets to Eureka:

–       GIS Response Vehicle

–       Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Support Team

–       Advance Incident Management Team (IMT), followed by a full Incident Management Team

–       KDEM Response Liaison and Regional Coordinator to support incident command and county emergency management

–       Communications on Wheels

–       Resource Accountability Tracking Team

–       Public Assistance Support for damage assessment and debris management

The SEOC will scale back activation overnight to a staff duty officer and will resume full activation at 7 a.m. Thursday morning.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNDERWAY IN EUREKA

Search and rescue efforts continue in Eureka and local officials are conducting damage assessments following tornado damage last evening.

Westar crews have arrived in Eureka and will be cutting power while working towards restoration.  They are working diligently to restore power.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has closed Highway 54 from mile marker 287 to mile marker 266 and will be manning the detour.

Two KDEM Public Assistance representatives and one Kansas Department of Health and Environment representative arrived in Eureka to start debris damage assessment.

Search and Rescue teams are on-site and are assisting local authorities.

The American Red Cross is asking anyone affected by the tornado to register at their Safe and Well website at https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.  The Safe and Well website can also be used to check on family members in the affected area.

A tornado struck the community of Eureka in Greenwood County at approximately 7:31 p.m., June 26.  Search and rescue efforts are underway and local officials are conducting damage assessments.

Gov. Jeff Colyer declared a State of Disaster Emergency proclamation at 8:33 p.m. Greenwood County declared a state of local disaster. The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka was activated to coordinate the response of state agencies. Personnel from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management are in contact with Greenwood County emergency management officials to respond to requests for assistance.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter for displaced residents at the Methodist Church, 521 N. Main Street in Eureka.

The Kansas Highway Patrol was on the scene and providing security and manning roadblocks.

Last night there were are approximately 5,700 Westar Energy customers that are without power.

State agencies that are represented in the State Emergency Operations Center include the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, the Kansas National Guard, Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Fire Marshal and Department of Children and Family Services

.The Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM), a division of The Adjutant General’s Department, is asking all concerned citizens wishing to assist with rescue and recovery efforts in Eureka to please stay home until asked.

Governor Jeff Colyer Issues Statement in Response to Today’s Supreme Court Ruling on Free Speech and Abortion

“I was both thankful and encouraged to see today’s ruling by the United States Supreme Court in favor of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, which struck down an unconscionable law that had forced pro-life pregnancy centers to assist in the promotion of abortion. This ruling serves as an important reaffirmation of religious freedom, and I am hopeful that the court will continue to rule in favor of freedom of conscience and uphold the 1st Amendment.”