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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2008 No. 08-014 PRESIDENT APPROVES FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR DECEMBER ICE STORMS President George W. Bush today approved Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' request
that he declare a federal disaster for a number of Kansas counties impacted
by the severe ice storms that swept the state beginning Dec. 6, 2007 and
continuing through Dec. 19, 2007. The storm caused six deaths. Two people
were hospitalized, 11 others injured and more than 183,000 customers were
without power at the height of the storms. Gov. Sebelius said, "I appreciate the President's authorization
of our request that will help those counties impacted by the December
storms. It seems we've had more than our fair share of these requests
over the past year, but at least we're getting the federal support to
assist with recovery." The federal declaration means FEMA will provide reimbursements through
its Public Assistance Program to state and local governments and certain
non-profits, including rural electric cooperatives for the following:
emergency protective measures, debris removal, repair or replacement of
disaster-damaged facilities including roads and bridges, water systems,
buildings, equipment, utilities, parks and recreation facilities and other
items. The following 60 counties are eligible for the Public Assistance Program
reimbursements: Atchison, Barber, Barton, Brown, Butler, Chase, Cherokee,
Clark, Clay, Cloud, Comanche, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Edwards,
Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Graham, Harvey, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jefferson,
Jewell, Kingman, Kiowa, Labette, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Lyon, McPherson,
Marion, Marshall, Miami, Mitchell, Morris, Nemaha, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa,
Pawnee, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Riley, Rooks,
Rush, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Smith, Stafford, Wabaunsee,
Washington and Woodson. The governor also received approval for Hazard Mitigation for all 105
counties. This allows the counties to apply for reimbursement for cost-effective
actions taken to prevent or reduce the threat of future damage to a facility. Damages to public infrastructure resulting from the December storm totaled
in excess of $170 million with approximately $148 million of that in damages
to Kansas Rural Electric Cooperatives and municipal utilities. The state also plans to pursue loans through the Small Business Administration
due to the number of commercial losses with the grocery and nursery businesses. In December, Sebelius requested and received a Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration for all 105 counties that provided direct federal assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures. This means FEMA provides direct federal assistance through a mission assignment to another federal agency - upon request of the state - when the state and local government certify they lack the capability to perform or contract for the requested work. This includes debris clearance and/or removal; food, water, ice and other consumable commodities; and other emergency protective measures such as generators for critical facilities and shoring or demolition of unsafe structures. The state agrees in advance to reimburse FEMA for the appropriate non-federal
share of the work including the overhead of the federal agency assigned
the task. -30- |
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