Federal aid available for ice storm recovery

Federal aid is available to help recovery from the severe winter storm that struck Douglas County and much of eastern Kansas on Jan. 4-6.

Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan., announced Wednesday that President Bush had declared the storm a disaster, opening the way for federal funds to help out with recovery efforts.

As many as 1,200 homes in Lawrence had lost power because of ice-laden tree limbs that had fallen on power lines or power lines themselves that had become coated in ice and snapped.

Local governments and some nonprofit organizations that helped with emergency response efforts will be eligible to apply for the aid.

Other counties eligible for aid were Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Clark, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jefferson, Kingman, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Osage, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Woodson, and Wyandotte counties.