TOPEKA — Gov. Mark Parkinson has requested that Pres. Barack Obama declare a federal disaster in Kansas because of the Christmas blizzard and for winter storms occurring through Jan. 10. Parkinson’s request includes Franklin, Anderson, Miami, Osage and Linn counties. He also asked for a special grant to pay reimburse Osage County’s snow removal costs. The storm caused more than $13 million in damage to roads, bridges and utilities, Parkinson said. If the federal disaster declaration is issued, the state and 49 counties would be reimbursed for most of their storm costs.
