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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2008 No. 08-059
CURFEW LIFTED IN CHAPMAN; DEBRIS REMOVAL MAIN FOCUS Chapman officials are lifting the curfew tonight that has been in place since the tornado struck the town June 11. This evening law enforcement checkpoints into town are being removed, however, officials will continue to have a strong law enforcement presence in Chapman. Power has been restored to nearly all of Chapman. Officials are asking residents to call the city at 785-922-6582 to report power outages, even if they have already reported them previously. And any electrical wire in town should be left in place. Its removal will be considered a theft. In Chapman, informational briefings will be held only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4 p.m. at the city park (reduced from daily). In case of rain, the meetings will move to the Catholic Parish Hall on East 6th Street. Debris removal is the main focus for residents in the area. Officials are asking residents not to place their own dumpsters in the streets to ensure workers can get through. Household hazardous waste materials are to be separated from other materials. If anyone has questions on debris removal or household hazardous waste materials, please call Dickinson County Environmental Services at 785-263-4780.
VOLUNTEERS IN CHAPMAN AND MANHATTAN
The United Way will begin coordinating volunteer response in Chapman. Anyone needing help or wanting to help victims should call 2-1-1 and the United Way will ensure volunteers are sent to those in need. The volunteer reception area is at the Kansas Auto Racing Museum, 1205 Manor Drive, in Chapman. Parking will be provided for volunteers. Anyone who has lost or found a pet in Chapman may contact Darlene Hobbs, 785-263-5021 or go to 6th and Marshall in Chapman. The Manhattan Fire Department is coordinating volunteers for Manhattan. Two subdivisions in need of help include the Miller Ranch area and Amherst. On Saturday, those interested in helping tornado victims should go to the Bramlage Coliseum football stadium between 8 a. m. to 3 p.m. Pawnee Mental Health staff will be doing outreach to the area to help Manhattan residents deal with the stress of their loss.
STATE RESOURCES REMAIN AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS
The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services is providing emergency assistance to meet individual's immediate needs and replacement food assistance benefits. The SRS has staff in Chapman and Abilene at a "one stop shop" set up by the American Red Cross for agencies that are helping. These staff members are also taking applications for assistance, issuing benefits based on customer statement and postponing verification for three to six months. Family service funds have been made available to purchase goods and services. The Kansas Department of Revenue has notified state driver’s license offices and county treasurers to replace lost driver’s licenses/identification cards at no cost. Licenses for Dickinson County residents can be picked up at the county courthouse in Abilene free of charge. Vehicle investigators are contacting car dealerships regarding vehicles that sustained damages. The Kansas Department of Transportation has a communications on wheels vehicle in Chapman to assist with communication needs for first responders, as well as a 1610 AM radio repeater. KDOT sent crews with two loaders, three power brooms and three dump trucks to Chapman to assist with debris removal. Other KDOT personnel worked through the night to replace traffic signs. The Kansas Department of Administration is assisting Kansas State University in preparing its insurance claim for damages sustained to the campus. The Kansas Department of Agriculture sent food safety inspectors to storm sites to help food businesses determine whether food items should be destroyed. The department also provided educational materials about food safety and power loss, how to safely operate under a boil water advisory and provided other guidance as needed to get food businesses back up and running. The Kansas Department on Aging is assisting Dickinson and Riley County officials with issues regarding care homes. Chapman Valley Manor was undamaged in the tornado, but did experience a lack of potable water. The Memorial Hospital Long-Term Care Unit in Abilene picked up their laundry and drinking water was available from other sources. The Area Agency on Aging office was following up with seniors Thursday in Geary, Saline and Clay counties and had staff dispatched with intake forms to the shelter in Riley County. The North Central Flint Hills AAA has a meal center in Abilene which will supply meals for seniors in the Dickinson County/Chapman area. They also have a supply of shelf-stable meals for distribution, if necessary. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is overseeing debris removal and disposal, including hazardous household waste and asbestos-containing materials. This includes providing guidance regarding the safe removal of asbestos from structures, ensuring compliance with asbestos regulations by providing consultant contact information to property owners, monitoring ambient air for asbestos and other contaminants and providing respiratory protection guidance to workers and responders as requested. KDHE personnel are also providing technical assistance to waste facility operators and guidance to local government on debris removal plan and financing. KDHE is also monitoring the disposal of spoiled food inventories at food and lodging establishments. It is also inspecting and providing technical assistance to mass feeding facilities and food service establishments to ensure health and safety and help speed recovery. KDHE personnel are assisting local health departments and hospitals with resource requests and assisting with coordination among local health departments to ensure an adequate supply of tetanus vaccine for workers and responders. KDHE issued a boil water advisory in Chapman to protect residents from risk of waterborne diseases. The advisory was later rescinded when lab testing confirmed the water system was safe. KDHE issued a stream advisory for Smoky River due to loss of power to Chapman wastewater treatment plant. It is providing technical assistance to plant operators so that normal operations can resume. KDHE is also responding to requests for replacement vital records by mail and by walk-in at the Topeka office. At such time a Disaster Recovery Center is activated, this service will be provided there also. The Kansas Health Policy Agency has submitted a $30,000 request to the Wellpoint Health Network to be donated to the Red Cross in the area. UniCare, a subsidiary of Wellpoint, a private insurer that serves Medicaid beneficiaries, has identified their members in the affected areas. KHPA has notified business partners and providers in the affected areas to ensure no one has issues with services and let them know that Out Of Network visits will be paid. The Kansas Department of Commerce is preparing a Community Development Block Grant “urgent need” request and will be talking to community officials soon about how that works. The Kansas National Guard had soldiers in Chapman and Manhattan through Saturday, June 14, providing security. Kansas Highway Patrol personnel responded to the Salina, Chapman, Manhattan, and Soldier areas. The KHP command bus is currently in Dickinson County. KHP helicopters assisted with search and rescue and damage assessments in Chapman and Manhattan. One KHP officer assisted in the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka. KHP troopers assisted Chapman Police Department and Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office with law enforcement patrols. Troopers also assisted Riley County law enforcement with police calls and accidents in the Manhattan area. KHP is also assisting with roving patrols and security in established perimeters. Kansas Wildlife and Parks had two Natural Resources officers on duty
in Chapman at the request of the local sheriff to assist with security. -30- |
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