Well, at least they're worried about rural Kansas and cattle
Bush declares federal disaster in Kansas after storms
Updated 1/8/2007 2:03 PM ET
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By Larry Smith, AP
Members of the Kansas National Guard use a Black Hawk helicopter to drop bales of hay for cattle stranded after a major snowstorm hit Kansas.
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WASHINGTON (AP) "” President Bush has declared portions of western Kansas a major disaster, clearing the way for federal dollars to help the state recover from winter storms that left thousands without power.[/align]Federal funds will be available to state and local governments in 44 counties for debris removal and other emergency measures, the White House announced late Sunday. The declaration also makes funds available to certain non-profit organizations to help with recovery efforts.
"This federal assistance will enable local officials to restore vital public infrastructure damaged by these storms," said Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Counties covered by the declaration are: Cheyenne, Clark, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.
At the peak of the storms that swept the state on Dec. 28-31, more than 20,000 Aquila Inc. customers and 46,300 customers of nine rural electric cooperatives were without power. The storm blanketed some counties with nearly 3 feet of snow, with drifts as high as 15 to 16 feet.
By Monday morning, Aquila had only about 40 customers still without power, said spokesman Curt Floerchinger. The cooperatives had reduced the number of outages to 8,220 customers, according to the Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., a statewide association.
State officials estimate it could be more than two weeks before all service can be restored.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has scheduled damage surveys of areas affected by the storms. Other counties may be included after the assessments are completed.
The declaration also makes active the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the entire state, which assists state and local governments in preventing or reducing risk to life and property from natural or other hazards.
Sebelius has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to declare the same counties agricultural disaster areas to help minimize economic losses for livestock producers affected by the storm.
Wheres fema?
