29 March 2006

Governor requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for two counties
Damages resulted from severe storms on March 12

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has requested federal assistance to help two Kansas counties recover from the effects of the severe storm that struck Northeast Kansas on March 12. The storm generated high straight-line “micro-burst” winds, hail and lightning that caused considerable damage to state and local infrastructure. Gov. Sebelius declared a State of Disaster Emergency to aid in response and recovery.

Through a letter sent to President George W. Bush yesterday, Governor Sebelius asked for federal assistance to restore damaged state and local infrastructure in Douglas and Wyandotte Counties under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 288, as amended, and implemented by 44 CFR Part 206.36(d). These damages include such things as public buildings and debris removal. She also requested that the Hazard Mitigation Program be activated statewide.

“We want things return to normal as quickly as possible for the KU campus and those impacted in these two counties,” said Sebelius. “I appreciated President Bush’s phone call expressing concern shortly after the storms and I hope we hear back from our federal partners quickly on this request.”

The preliminary estimate of total damage exceeds $5.5 million. Of that total, damages in Douglas County exceed $5 million with more than half a million dollars in Wyandotte County. Preliminary assessments indicated the most severe impacts to state and local infrastructure included power lines, utility poles, debris removal, school buildings, vehicle damage and state-owned facilities. The State and local shares of eligible costs are estimated to exceed $1.4 million.

Initial damage reports at the University of Kansas in Lawrence indicated damage to approximately 60 percent of the buildings on campus at more than $4 million. Approximately 17,000 customers were without power in the Lawrence area following the storm. Six thousand customers were still without power as of the evening of March 12.

Wyandotte County reported losses to public utilities, school districts and vehicle damage.

State and local agencies that responded and are continuing to provide response and recovery support include Kansas Emergency Management, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas National Guard, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department of Commerce, American Red Cross and Salvation Army.