KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a state of emergency Thursday in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, stores across the metro were packed with people buying supplies.
At the Costco in Midtown, some items, such as toilet paper and paper towels, were completely out, and lines at the stores were long.
"A little bit of things, just some extra water, some extra dog food in abundance of caution," KCMO resident Andrew Miller said of the trip to the store. "Just in case we can’t get here in a week and a half for something like that, maybe get the things that you need."
"I’m trying to stock up on groceries just in case,” KCMO resident Chole Harris said.
With the long lines and low supplies, some shoppers said it was an unusual experience.
"It was a little overwhelming in there," KCMO resident Jonathan Brainer said. "Mega long lines, a little sense of panic from everybody I think."
Most people 41 Action News spoke with agreed there need to be measures in place, such as the state of emergency, to help prevent the possible spread of the virus.
"I think it’s important to not help the spread of it, like I’m not afraid of it, but you don’t want to overwhelm the health facilities,” Miller said.
"I think it’s definitely going to be safer for the community if we just kind of isolate ourselves a bit more than we usually would,” Harris added.
It’s a new normal that residents in the metro are trying to prepare for.
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” Miller said.
"I guess I wasn’t expecting it to get as far as it has, but it’s definitely feeling a lot more real now,” Harris said.
