As our third round of flooding in five weeks comes to an end, several area counties have now been added to a federal disaster declaration.
The Kansas Adjutant General’s Office says Lyon, Morris and Wabaunsee counties now join Coffey, Greenwood and Osage counties as part of an emergency aid declaration after widespread and ongoing floods through most of May. Of the 60 counties now included in a state disaster declaration, 33 are now part of a related federal declaration. Chase County is the only area county not currently included but could be added later.
Federal emergency declarations are important because they support local and state efforts to protect public health or safety — or to lessen the threat of more significant disasters — by providing direct aid for emergency measures.
The announcement was made with the Neosho River still in flood at Neosho Rapids but all other flooding officially over areawide. As of 4 pm, the river was at 22.3 feet, above flood stage of 22. It should go below flood stage before midnight.
