President Obama Signs Disaster Declaration for Kansas

President Obama has declared that a major natural disaster exists in Kansas and has ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding during the period of April 14- and 15.  Federal funding is now available to state and eligible local governments and some private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the storms in the following counties: Edwards, Ellsworth, Harper, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kiowa, Mitchell, Osborne, Rice, Rush, Russell, Sedgwick, Stafford, and Sumner. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.  Stephen R. Thompson has been appointed as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected parts of Kansas.  FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, says additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.