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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 28, 2007 No. 07-205
PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS FOR ICE STORM UNDERWAY
The state of Kansas and FEMA are sending preliminary damage assessment teams across the state now to survey damage caused by the ice storm which hit the state Dec. 10 and resulted in more than 130,000 customers losing power. The two-person teams, each made up of a state and FEMA representative, will determine whether counties have sustained enough damage to qualify for federal reimbursements for expenses such as debris clearing or emergency measures taken before and during the storm to protect the public. Damage to electric cooperatives will also be assessed.
The 37 counties being surveyed are: Atchison, Barton, Brown, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Edwards, Ellsworth, Geary, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Kingman, Labette, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Morris, Nemaha, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Shawnee, Stafford, Washington, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte.
Assessments are expected to be completed by early January. Then the state will determine which of the above counties meet federal criteria for reimbursement and request assistance. Individual assistance is not anticipated to be approved for this storm because damage is not expected to be severe enough to meet requirements. Individual assistance is based on a county having a significant number of homes with severe damage with a large percentage of the damage being uninsured.
Governor Sebelius issued a state disaster declaration which included all 105 counties. She then received a federal emergency declaration which provided direct federal assistance to any federal agency which helped the state and local governments with issues including bringing in generators, debris removal and clearing, and providing bottled water.
During the ice storm, numerous shelters were opened across the state by the American Red Cross, churches and community organizations to provide food, water and cots to those without power. Nearly 225 Kansas National Guardsmen performed a variety of missions ranging from search and rescue, clearing debris from roadways, opening armories as shelters, managing inventory and staff, and delivering generators, bottled water, and cots throughout the state.
The Kansas Department of Transportation monitored roadways, closing many
when conditions became too dangerous for travel, and the Kansas Highway
Patrol worked numerous traffic accidents and reported four fatalities
from slick roadways over the weekend of December 8th and 9th. Law enforcement
authorities believe a woman in Geary County and a man in Reno County died
due to the storm, bringing the deaths to six for this storm. Search and
rescue efforts in southeast Kansas resulted in five individuals being
taken to the hospital after members of the Kansas National Guard went
door to door helping local law enforcement with wellness checks. -30- |
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