Federal Disaster Funds Authorized for Kan. to Aid in Storm Recovery

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that federal disaster funds have been made available for Kansas to help local governments recover from the effects of a severe winter storm that struck the state last November.

Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison said President Bush authorized the aid under a major disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA’s analysis of the state’s request for federal assistance. The declaration covers damage to public property from the storm that occurred Nov. 27-28, 2005.

After the President’s action, Paulison designated the following 17 counties eligible for federal funding to pay the state and affected local governments and certain private non-profit organizations 75 percent of the approved costs for emergency work and the restoration of damaged facilities: Cheyenne, Decatur, Edwards, Gove, Graham, Hodgeman, Ness, Norton, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas and Trego.

In addition, Paulison said federal funds will be available to the state on a cost-shared basis for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. He indicated that additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.