Past Cowley County Disasters
2009 Flood
Preliminary Damage Assessments
A preliminary damage assessment was held for severe storms and flooding that affected Cowley County beginning on April 25, 2009. The preliminary damage assessment is the first step in a request for federal funding. After today's assessment, the total estimated damage and losses will be added to other counties in the state.
*UPDATED* Preliminary Damage Assessments
The Preliminary Damage Assessement revealed that approximatelty $231,966.00 in damages occurred in Cowley County from the event that started on April 25, 2009. The Governor has signed and sent a request to FEMA for a federal declaration for the State of Kansas including Cowley County. Currently, that request is at FEMA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. awaiting approval.
DECLARED: June 25, 2009
SUMMARY: In the event of a declaration, the following information applies:
STATE: Kansas
NUMBER: FEMA-1849-DR
INCIDENT: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes
INCIDENT PERIOD: April 25 to May 16, 2009
DATE REQUESTED BY GOVERNOR: June 11, 2009
FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER: Michael L. Karl National FCO Program
DESIGNATIONS AND TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (Assistance to individuals and households): None.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities): Anderson, Barber, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Finney, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Labette, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Reno, Rice, Sumner, Wabaunsee, and Wilson Counties.
HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (Assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards): All counties in the State of Kansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
OTHER: Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.
2009 Ice Storm
Governor Requests Federal Assistance for March Winter Storms
No. 09-049
Gov. Mark Parkinson has submitted a request to the president for federal assistance to defray costs associated with the response to and recovery from the severe winter storms that struck the state during the period March 26 to 29, 2009.
In a letter to Art Freeman, acting regional director for FEMA Region VII, Parkinson detailed actions taken by state and local emergency response agencies to the severe storms that blanketed large areas of the state with as much as 30 inches of snow, accompanied by strong winds, sleet, ice and drifts of up to 20 feet. The storms resulted in widespread power outages, road closures and some building collapses. Then-governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a State of Disaster Emergency declaration for 62 counties.
Preliminary Damage Assessments place damages in excess of $18.6 million in the affected counties. The counties hardest hit were Butler, which sustained more than $5 million in damages; Cowley, $2.2 million; and Greenwood, $1.9 million. Parkinson requested federal Public Assistance (all categories of work including emergency protective measures, debris removal and infrastructure
repair) for Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Coffey, Cowley, Dickinson, Elk, Grant, Greenwood, Harvey, Lyon, Marion, Sumner and Woodson Counties. He also requested emergency assistance for snow removal under the Public Assistance program (emergency protective measures) for Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Grant, Haskell, Kearney, Kingman, Kiowa, McPherson, Meade, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Seward, Stafford, Stanton and Stevens Counties. In addition, he requested funding for the Hazard Mitigation Program statewide.
"Just when we thought winter was over, the state was hit pretty hard," said Parkinson. "This federal assistance will help ease some of the financial burden these counties incurred from the storms."
Public Assistance refers to money that is used to restore public infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and utilities, and for associated recovery costs, such as debris removal from public roads. The Hazard Mitigation Program funds projects that are designed to eliminate or reduce the impact of disasters to a community, such as flood control measures.
An Applicant's Briefing has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in Winfield. At this briefing, eligible applicants will begin the reimbursement process by meeting with FEMA and representatives of the State Emergency Management office. This meeting is in anticipation of the disaster declaration being signed by the President.
Governor Signs State of Disaster Emergency Declaration
No. 09-019
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a declaration of a State of Disaster Emergency following significant snowfall and ice in Southwest and South Central Kansas.
“It is important that we ensure Kansas counties have the resources they need,” said Sebelius. “This storm system has hit parts of our state hard, left many residents without power, forced numerous roads closed and resulted in multiple accidents, including one fatality.”
The following 62 counties are included in the declaration:
Barber, Barton, Butler, Chautauqua, Chase, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Elk, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Geary, Gray, Grant, Greeley, Greenwood, Harvey, Harper, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearney, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Morton, Morris, Ness, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Scott, Seward, Sherman, Stanton, Stafford, Stevens, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Wallace, and Wichita counties.
The declaration authorizes the use of state funds and resources, including equipment and personnel of the Kansas National Guard, to respond to emergency situations in affected counties. This also includes missions such as power generation to critical infrastructures (hospitals, nursing homes, shelters), communication support, health and welfare checks on isolated homes, debris removal needed for life safety, transporting feed to stranded livestock and other emergency aid necessary for the health and safety of the public.
*UPDATED* Preliminary Damage Assessment Information
The Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) was held in Cowley County on Thursday, April 16, 2009. Representatives from affected jurisdictions met with the State Emergency Management office and FEMA.
Preliminary data shows that Cowley County sustained an estimated loss or expense of $292,170.40. The dates for the disaster are currently set at March 26-30, 2009. The State will compile Cowley County’s losses with other counties before submitting their final report to FEMA.
Governor Requests Federal Declaration
The Governor has sent a request to FEMA Headquarters in Washington D.C. requesting a Federal Declaration for the Ice Storm that occurred from March 26-29, 2009. To this date, the request has not been signed. The State is confident that the request will be signed in the next week.
An Applicant's Briefing has been scheduled for potentially eligible applicants for June 25, 2009.
DECLARED JUNE 24, 2009
SUMMARY: In the event of a declaration, the following information applies:
STATE: Kansas
NUMBER: FEMA-1848-DR
INCIDENT: Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow
INCIDENT PERIOD: March 26-29, 2009
DATE REQUESTED BY GOVERNOR: May 15, 2009
FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER: Michael L. Karl National FCO Program
DESIGNATIONS AND TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (Assistance to individuals and households): None.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities): Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Coffey, Cowley, Dickinson, Elk, Grant, Greenwood, Harvey, Lyon, Marion, Sumner, and Woodson Counties.
(Assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), including snow removal assistance, to save lives and to protect public health and safety): This emergency assistance will be provided for a period of 48 hours for the counties of Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Grant, Haskell, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, McPherson, Meade, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, and Stevens.
HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (Assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards): All counties in the State of Kansas are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
OTHER: Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.