Governor Laura Kelly sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking for a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration due to damages caused by fires, severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, flooding and a winter storm during the period of March 14th thru the 19th of this year. Multiple counties sustained damage to utility infrastructure, roads, bridges, and some government-owned buildings.
Kelly says given the extent of the damage it will be important to have federal support available to assist rural electric cooperatives and municipally owned utilities rebuild their electric utility infrastructure, and local levels of government repair their buildings and roadways.
The governor made the request to seek federal assistance through the Public Assistance Program. The program provides funds on a cost-share basis to repair damaged public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.