| For immediate release: December 12, 2007 |
Nicole Corcoran, Press Secretary
785.368.8500 |
President responds to Governor's request
for assistance
Disaster declaration authorized for all Kansas counties
Governor Kathleen Sebelius was notified late today that
her request for a federal emergency disaster declaration for all 105
Kansas counties as a result of the ice storm which began December 6th
has been authorized by President George W. Bush.
Sebelius signed a letter to the White House late yesterday requesting federal assistance to help the state recover from the impact of the storm.
Sebelius also spoke with Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Michael Chertoff this afternoon and asked that Kansas' request
be expedited.
"I'm very encouraged by the quick response of the
President and members of his administration," Sebelius said. "I'm
happy to report that not only has the President signed the declaration,
but our request for drinking water and generators has also been granted
and supplies are on their way. This puts us in a better position with
our response and recovery from these storms across the state."
Sebelius declared a state of emergency disaster Monday,
Dec. 10 in anticipation of worsening conditions. Today, power companies
reported more than 130,000 Kansas customers without service throughout
the state.
In the request for the federal emergency disaster declaration,
Governor Sebelius asked for the Public Assistance program to assist
communities with debris removal and emergency protective measures taken
before, during, and after the disaster to save lives and protect the
public's health.
State and local agencies that responded and are continuing to provide response and recovery support include the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas National Guard, Kansas Department of Transportation, American Red Cross and Salvation Army. The Kansas Adjutant General's Department is coordinating the state's response actions.
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