TOPEKA — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has asked for federal aid to help Douglas and Wyandotte counties recover from the March 12 storms that swept through northeast Kansas.
Sebelius, who declared a state of disaster emergency to aid in response and recovery, sent a letter Tuesday to President Bush asking him to make a presidential disaster declaration for the two counties.
The March 12 storm generated high straight-line "microburst" winds that knocked down large trees, blew out downtown storefront windows, tore off church steeples, snapped numerous power lines and damaged dozens of buildings at Kansas University.
In her request, Sebelius asked for federal aid to restore damaged state and local infrastructure in the two counties and help pay for debris removal.
"We want things returned to normal as quickly as possible for the KU campus and those impacted in these two counties," Sebelius said in her letter. "I appreciated President Bush's phone call expressing concerns shortly after the storms and I hope we hear back from our federal partners quickly on this request."
Sebelius said the preliminary estimate totals more than $5.5 million in damages. More than $5 million of that was in Douglas County.
Preliminary assessments indicated the more severe damage and costs to state and local infrastructure included power lines, utility poles, debris removal, school buildings, vehicle damage and state-owned facilities, according to the governor's office.
Sebelius's office said the state and local shares of eligible costs are estimated to exceed $1.4 million.
The governor's office said initial reports indicated damage to about 60 percent of the buildings on KU's campus at a cost of more than $4 million.
About 17,000 electric customers were without power in Lawrence after the storm hit the morning of March 12 and more than 6,000 were still without power that evening, according to the governor's office.
Wyandotte County reported losses to public utilities and school districts and also vehicle damage.
March 12, 2006, Storm
Related content for the storm
- 6News video: Family still picking up pieces following storm (07-11-06)
- Insurance documents from the Taylors' claim (pdf)
- After storm, family sees no quick fix (07-12-06)
- 6News video: East Lawrence resident still struggling following storm (04-04-06)
- Home and its owner will persevere after storm (04-05-06)
- 6News video: Local family continues to clean up storm aftermath (03-30-06)
- Businesses, residents picking up pieces after microburst (03-31-06)
- Spring weddings out at KU chapel (03-29-06)
- 6News video: Storm alters wedding plans (03-21-06)
- 6News video: Campus skyline to miss radio tower (03-21-06)
- 6News video: Ryun visits KU campus (03-21-06)
- Storm displaces Danforth weddings (03-22-06)
- Tower at KU on way down (03-22-06)
- Pregnant storm victim thankful for aid (03-21-06)
- 6News video: Bishop Seabury students and alum help local family cleanup from storm (03-16-06)
- 6News video: Hundreds of city employees continue to collect storm debris (03-16-06)
- 6News video: South Park receives needed attention (03-16-06)
- 6News video: Historic downtown church labled a precaution from storm damage (03-16-06)
- Checkers security camera footage of the March 12 storms (03-16-06)
- 6News video: Several buildings in Lawrence declared unsafe to live or work
- 6News video: Historic headstones damaged by storm in Oak Hill Cemetery
- 6News video: Ten-year-old captures live footage of microburst
- Forecast for rain prompts fast repairs (03-16-06)
- Safety concerns lead to re-evacuation (03-16-06)
- 6News video: Tornado sirens ring loud and clear during testing (03-14-06)
- 6News video: State government plans for KU repair cost (03-14-06)
- 6News video: Several Lawrence parks and cemeteries hit hard by storm (03-14-06)
- What does it take to sound sirens? (03-15-06)
- Tuesday's warning was only a test
- Sebelius and Hemenway press conference, part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- March 12 Storm: Aftermath
- Storm damage
- Reader photos: Storm damage
- Interactive storm damage map
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yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Ah, Kansas. Suckling at the federal teat.