TOPEKA – The state has started counting the costs of the Christmas blizzard. State and federal teams will check how much it cost counties in east central and northeast Kansas to shovel snow, clear roads and pick up debris because of the storm. Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Kansas adjutant general, said the blizzard was as bad as he’s seen in eastern Kansas in several years. Driving winds and bitterly cold temperatures hampered response and recovery operations for several days and severely stretched state and county manpower and resources, he said. Franklin County and other counties declared local disaster areas. The assessment is a first step to see if the state and counties qualify for federal disaster aid. If the state qualifies, many of the counties including Franklin County would receive reimbursement for most of their blizzard-related expenses.
