Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is sending a letter to President Bush requesting a federal disaster declaration for 60 counties because of December’s ice storms.

Included on the list are Jefferson and Leavenworth counties.

Joint and federal preliminary disaster teams estimate damage to public infrastructure from the storms to be in excess of $170 million. About $148 million is damage to Kansas Rural Electric Cooperatives and municipal facilities.

The ice storms, which hit Kansas from Dec. 10 to 19, also caused six deaths, hospitalized two people and injured 11 others. More than 183,000 customers were without power at the height of the storms.

Sebelius also requested hazard mitigation for all 105 counties. Hazard mitigation is defined as cost-effective action taken to prevent or reduce the threat of future damage to a facility. The state also will pursue loans through the Small Business Administration because of the number of commercial losses.