SEVEN COUNTIES ADDED TO REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has submitted a letter to FEMA Region VII to request joint Preliminary Damage Assessments be conducted in seven additional counties for damages to public infrastructure resulting from storms beginning May 19 and continuing. Named in the letter are Chase, Doniphan, Graham, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Ness and Wallace Counties.

The initial request was submitted June 10, 2011, asking for a joint Preliminary Damage Assessments for Public Assistance for the period of May 19, 2011, and continuing for 24 Kansas. The request was amended June 16. Governor Sam Brownback had declared a State of Disaster Emergency on June 3 due to the storms and amended it June 28.

Named in the initial PDA request were Barton, Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Lyon, Mitchell, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Shawnee, Sherman, Smith, and Stafford Counties. Ellis, Hamilton, Morton, Stanton and Washington Counties were added to the request June 16. Additional counties may continue to be added.

“We want every eligible county to have the opportunity to apply for this federal assistance,” said Angee Morgan, deputy director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. “These assessments document the extent of damages caused by these storm systems so it can be determined if they meet the federal thresholds to qualify for Public Assistance money.”

The joint PDA teams, made up of KDEM and FEMA staff, will be looking at damage to public infrastructure, such as road, bridges and utilities. If these assessments indicate there are sufficient damages to meet federal eligibility thresholds, the counties named in the request may apply for federal Public Assistance to repair damages and pay for associated clean-up costs.