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Disaster Declaration & Information

Disaster Declaration & Information

A state of local disaster emergency may be declared in the event that a disaster has occurred or that the threat of a disaster is imminent.  A declaration may be made by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, or in the event of the absence of the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, a majority of the remaining members may declare a state of local disaster emergency.  If it appears that local resources are not adequate to deal with the emergency, state assistance may be requested through the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.  Depending upon the damage, the governor may issue a declaration of a State of Disaster Emergency.

FEMA-4449-DR, Kansas Disaster Declaration

For the Time Period of April 28, 2019, and Continuing

Heavy rains and severe weather systems, including large hail and tornadoes, resulted in flooding and flash flooding in Barton County beginning on April 28 and continuing through the month of May and into the month of June 2019. 

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly sent a request to President Donald Trump asking for a major presidential declaration for the public assistance program.  The Public Assistance program helps pay for restoration of public infrastructure and associated costs caused by the heavy rains and severe weather. 

On June 20, 2019, President Trump declared that a major disaster existed in the State of Kansas and ordered Federal Assistance to supplement state and local efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding.

Federal funding is now available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in the counties of Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Barton, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Doniphan, Elk, Ellsworth, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Jefferson, Kingman, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson and Woodson.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Assistance for individuals has not been approved for this disaster.