The Federal Emergency Management Agency building in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Nov. 25, 2024. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)
TOPEKA — President Donald Trump granted a disaster declaration for Kansas Friday in the wake of destructive June storms and after bipartisan support from lawmakers concerned with recovery efforts.
Severe storms landed in southeast and south-central Kansas on June 3, causing tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that lasted until June 7 and damaged farms, homes and power lines. Roads in some areas were impassable.
Kansas was eligible for more than $7.5 million in federal assistance, and it now can be shared among Barber, Butler, Chase, Coffey, Cowley, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Hodgeman, Kingman, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Stanton, Sumner and Wallace counties, according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“These federal funds will go a long way in supporting the restoration work by those in counties impacted by the storms,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a Friday news release.
The storms damaged bridges, utility infrastructure and roads in multiple Kansas counties, according to the Kansas Adjutant General’s Department, which is responsible for multiple state agencies, including the division of emergency management.
“The declaration allows state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for public assistance funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster,” the department said in a news release.
On Tuesday, Kelly proclaimed another state of disaster emergency due to heavy rains and flooding in counties in central Kansas.
“Heavy rains and flooding impacted several counties yesterday and we will do what we can to support those counties,” Kelly said. “Do not drive into standing water, just 12 inches of rushing (water) can carry away most cars. Turn around, don’t drown.”