DENVER -- As ABC aired an original movie about the bird flu landing in the United States, called "Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America," the state health department sent a message to remind people that the movie is fiction, not fact.

The movie depicts a doomsday scenario in which the bird flu pandemic hits American shores, passing from human to human as easily as a cold.

Dr. Ned Calonge said the likelihood of such a human epidemic playing out for real is considered remote.

"But it's not a human health emergency. Only if the bird flu mutates to gain that human-to-human transmission, would it be concerning, and would it cause the potential for a pandemic," Calonge said.

While officials stressed it's just a movie, state health officials do agree that the film depicts scenarios that "could" unfold should a severe pandemic ever develop.

"I think folks should think about what they can do. So it's legitimate to say, 'If there's shortages of food or water, or I need to stay at home for some period of time, I've planned for that. I've stockpiled food and I've stockpiled water and medications or other things I think I need to have,'" Calonge said.

The issue of preparedness has been top of mind with federal health officials and local responders in Denver. Just this week, the White House said the U.S. is not prepared for a bird flu pandemic and people should expect the bird flu reaching the U.S. in just a matter of months.

Local agencies and hospitals are putting plans in place and a group of nonprofits, local health agencies and business leaders met Tuesday afternoon to discuss emergency plans.

"We need to be prepared take care of ourself first and then work collectively to take care of our communities," said Brannen Ulrick, with the local Red Cross.

But experts hope "Fatal Contact" will raise more awareness than panic and inspire families and schools to look at their own preparedness in case of any health or weather related emergency.

Are you prepared for a large-scale emergency? Does your family have 72 hours worth of supplies? To find out what you need in an emergency kit, check out www.pandemicflu.gov and www.readycolorado.org. You can also call the Colorado Help Health Hotline at (877) 462-2911.