46 Kansas Counties Qualify for Federal Disaster Aid

Kansas officials say President Barack Obama has issued a federal disaster declaration for 46 counties hit by severe storms, high winds, tornadoes and floods from July 22 to Aug. 22.

Tuesday’s declaration allows the counties to apply for federal aid to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the violent weather.

Counties covered by the declaration are Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, Linn, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morris, Ness, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Saline, Sumner, Washington, Wilson and Woodson.

The declaration also authorizes all Kansas counties to apply for federal grants to mitigate the effects of future disasters.