Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area
Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area
Congressman Jerry Moran today received word from the White House that President Bush has declared a major disaster for the State of Kansas following the severe winter storms that swept the western part of the state December 28-31, 2006. This announcement makes federal funds available for recovery efforts in affected communities.
"The damage in western Kansas is dramatic and clearly met the threshold for becoming a federally designated disaster area," Moran said. "I applaud the White House for making federal assistance available to these Kansas counties in need."
Forty-four counties were designated for assistance to state and local governments for the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities, including debris removal and emergency protective measures. These counties include: Cheyenne, Clark, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace and Wichita.
Also, all counties in Kansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which includes assistance to state and local governments for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural or technological hazards. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.
Moran traveled with Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Adjutant General Tod Bunting, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky and Regional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Dick Hainje to Colby, Ulysses and Satanta on Wednesday to visit with local officials and view the results of the winter storms. Moran has also asked U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns to declare these counties agriculture disaster areas. This designation will open doors for assistance from USDA, including possible emergency loan programs for farmers and ranchers.
http://www.jerrymoran.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=710&Itemid=37