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, 3 on a 10-point scale.

Kansas Division of Emergency Management spokeswoman Sharon Watson says the state has responded successfully to numerous natural disasters and the division has been called upon routinely to help other states.

For example, she noted the report says Kansas hasn’t been accredited by a private, national emergency management program. But she says the state expects to receive such accreditation next year.

The report says that in the years since Sept. 11, 2001, preparedness has improved.But it points to gaps in readiness for health and extreme weather emergencies, bioterrorist threats and serious disease outbreaks.