The Natural Resources Conservation Service announces the availability of $3.66 million in Emergency Watershed Protection Program funds to assist Kansans affected by May floods and tornadoes.

Among counties whose residents are eligible for assistance: Douglas, Leavenworth, Lyon, Ottawa and Shawnee.

The service, which is part of USDA, administers the program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters.

The program’s goal is to relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, tornadoes and other natural occurrences.

Such efforts include clearing debris-clogged stream channels, stabilizing streambanks, or making other changes designed to restore an impaired watershed to the condition it was in before disaster struck.

Measures taken must be environmentally and economically sound and generally benefit more than one property owner.

Federal funds may cover up to 75 percent of the construction costs of eligible recovery measures.

For more information, call the USDA service center in Lawrence, at 843-4260.