The office of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said President Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration for counties in eastern and southeastern Kansas that were affected by severe storms in late April.
The storms brought large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flooding from April 25th through the 30th. The counties named in the declaration are Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Elk, Greenwood, Linn, Morris, Neosho, Pottawatomie, and Wilson.
The declaration allows for state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for Public Assistance Program funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.
The declaration also activates the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
