30 March 2006

Governor declares disaster in Reno and Montgomery Counties
Storms bring lightning, tornadoes, high winds, large hail and wildfires

“Governor Kathleen Sebelius declared a State of Disaster Emergency for Reno and Montgomery Counties earlier this evening, Thursday, March 30, due to severe storms that passed through South Central and Southeast Kansas. The storms were accompanied by lightning, tornadoes, high winds, large hail and wildfires.

“In making this declaration in the early stages of this disaster, we hope to expedite any assistance these counties may need,” said Sebelius.

Governor Sebelius, through Kansas Emergency Management, also requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was approved for Reno County at 8:30 p.m., local time. This is the first time Kansas has made such a request. The FMAG provides a 75 percent federal cost share reimbursement for operational costs to grantees to offset eligible costs for suppressing a fire if they meet one of the two following criteria: fire-related costs are greater than or equal to $158,617 in the affected county (Reno); or statewide fire-related costs are greater than or equal to $500,000 since Jan. 1, 2006.

Jim Miller, Montgomery County emergency manager, reported a tornado touched down in Montgomery County near Havana at 5:56 p.m. The tornado traveled northeast to the Elk City State Park and to the small community of LaHunt. Damage was also reported in a rural area approximately 10 miles north of Independence. Five homes were reported destroyed and several mobile homes tipped over. Some trailers at the State Lake were overturned.

One injury was reported and a man airlifted to Joplin. However, no fatalities have been reported at this time. Search and rescue operations are being conducted and road and bridge crews are working on clearing debris.

Reno County officials are tracking several fires. It is unknown if the fires were caused by the storms.

The worst known incident is in the vicinity 30th and Mayfield east of Hutchinson airport. Five large structures have been destroyed. County law enforcement evacuated 25 people to a local school, but were later moved to an American Red Cross reception center at the ETON Activity Center.

One hundred homes east of Hutchinson have been evacuated and approximately 50 more homes are threatened by the fires.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will provide additional information once it becomes available.