News from
The Adjutant General's Department

CONTACT:
Sharon Watson
Director, Public Affairs Office
Work: (785) 274-1192
Cell: (785) 806-4063
http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 30, 2009

No. 09-039            

THOUSANDS OF SANDBAGS DELIVERED TO SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS; MOTORISTS URGED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has received requests for approximately 106,000 sandbags from two south central Kansas counties. Butler and Harper counties requested the assistance through the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka. SEOC staff coordinated the deliveries with the U.S. Corp of Engineers office in Tulsa and Kansas City.

Butler County has requested 100,000 sandbags to hold back floodwaters. Fifty-thousand sandbags have been delivered to the city of Augusta (Butler County).  The remaining 50,000 sandbags will be delivered to Butler County today.  In addition, Harper County has requested and received 6,000 sandbags. Several other counties have requested information on potentially obtaining sandbags.

Additional flooding possible

More rain is expected to cause flooding concerns for the next several days. Flood advisories have been issued for the following counties: Douglas, Jefferson and Shawnee.

Flash flood watches have been issued for the following counties: Bourbon, Chase, Chautauqua, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Marion, McPherson, Morris, Reno, Rice, Saline, Sedgwick and Woodson.

Flood warnings have been issued for the following counties: Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Lyon, Miami, and Osage.

Both flood warnings and flash flood watches have been issued in the following counties: Allen, Butler, Cherokee, Cowley, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Sumner and Wilson.

For the latest maps regarding weather conditions, go to http://www.kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral .

Road Closures due to flooding

The Kansas Department of Transportation currently lists two road closures due to flooding. Highway K-31 in Bourbon County is closed between mile 128 and 133 due to flooding of the Little Osage River. Highway K-152 in Linn County is closed between miles 5 and 8 west of LaCygne. Regularly updated road closure information may be found at http://511.ksdot.org/ .

Motorists urged to take precautions when traveling in low-lying areas

The following is recommended by FEMA when driving in flood conditions:

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.

     Be prepared to evacuate home if flood conditions worsen

If a flood is likely in your area, FEMA recommends the following:

• Listen to the radio or television for information.
• Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

If you must prepare to evacuate, FEMA recommends the following:

• Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

If you have to leave your home, FEMA recommends these evacuation tips:

• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

   Additional information available

For additional information on flood safety, go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/fl_during.shtm  For more information on protecting your home and property, go to For more information, visit FloodSmart.gov. To protect your property with a flood insurance policy, call your insurance agent or call 1-800-427-2419 to find an agent near you. 

For additional flooding information, go to www.kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral and http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/Emergency%20Information.htm#Flood .

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