Kansas governor seeks federal disaster funding after December’s severe storms

Gov. Laura Kelly has asked for federal disaster assistance after December’s severe damage from high winds and fire.

Kelly seeks federal funding to help restore damaged public utilities, roads and bridges, said Jane Welch, director of public affairs for the Adjutant General’s Department.

In the request, Kelly wrote that severe storms on Dec. 15 “caused high winds and dry conditions that burned more than 160,000 acres and resulted in the deaths of two people,” Welch said.

Preliminary costs placed the total damage in excess of $15 million, the release says.

The Topeka National Weather Service office recorded 90 mph winds at 4,000 ft, the strongest recorded winds since 1955.

Counties included in the initial request are Barton, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Doniphan, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Meade, Mitchell, Morris, Morton, Nemaha, Ness, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Republic, Rice, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Scott, Sheridan, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Trego, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Washington, Wichita and Wyandotte.