6 September 2005
Governor requests Presidential Emergency Declaration for hurricane
In response to the need for relocating evacuees and a review of the contributions by the citizens and governmental and volunteer entities in the state of Kansas, Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a letter to the White House requesting federal assistance. This is the result of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Governor of Texas' requests to Kansas to assist in the relocation of evacuees from those states impacted by Hurricane Katrina to Kansas. Planning for this relocation effort has been on-going since Sept. 1.
In Kansas, there is currently enough support available for nearly 5,000 evacuees.
"Supplementary federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health and safety and to lessen the overall impact of this effort on the evacuees and the state of Kansas," Sebelius said.
"I am requesting 100 percent federal reimbursement for all costs associated with the relocation effort in Kansas to include emergency protective measures, direct federal assistance and crisis counseling," she said.
On Sept. 1, 2005, the Governor declared a state of disaster emergency for the state of Kansas and directed the use of the Kansas Response Plan to assist in Kansas' response to the disaster situation in the Gulf Coast states. Kansas has been involved in this relief effort since Sept. 1 and is continuing to plan for and assist in response activities to help those in need.
Governor Sebelius asked for the presidential declaration under the provision of Section 501 (a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 - 5206 (Stafford Act) and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.35.
