Topeka ? Gov. Mark Parkinson is asking the federal government for a disaster declaration for six Kansas counties hit by severe thunderstorms in July.

The counties are Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Franklin, Linn and Sedgwick. The six were hit from July 8-14 with winds, hail, lightning and torrential rains. Parkinson said damages to the six counties is expected to exceed $3.5 million, with debris removal topping $252,000 and damage to buildings and equipment at more than $1.8 million.

Parkinson says in his letter to President Barack Obama that the damages come when schools, local governments and nonprofits are struggling to keep solvent because of tough economic times.