Gov. Kelly requests extension for FEMA disaster relief

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Governor Laura Kelly has submitted a letter to FEMA requesting an extension to submit a request for a major disaster. The letter asks for an extension until Aug. 17.

From May 18 to 19, Kansas was hit with a barrage of large hail, straight-line winds, tornadoes and torrential rainfall that caused flooding. Kelly is asking for more time to gather damage assessments which can be used to ask for federal assistance through the Public Assistance program which provides funds on a cost-share basis to repair damaged infrastructure.

"Our state and local resources are stretched thin,” Kelly said. “I am requesting that FEMA give us additional time to collect data and validate all legitimate expenses. Our priority is to restore the infrastructure that is vital to the safety and well-being of Kansans within the impacted communities.”

More than 100,000 Evergy customers lost power due to the severe weather on May 19-20. The National Weather Service also reported a tornado touched down in northeast Kansas on May 19, uprooting trees with winds reaching up to 85 mph.

The president of the U.S. can make a major disaster declaration for any natural event like hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, tidal waves and more, according to the FEMA website. The president determines if the event has caused a magnitude of damage that is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond.

If a major disaster declaration is approved, it provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, as well as funds for both emergency and permanent work, according to the FEMA website. Any governor or tribal chief executive can submit a request to the president within 30 days of an incident occurring. For more information on major disaster declarations and how they are declared, click here.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.