Small Town News

Local government entities meet with FEMA reps

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Wabaunsee County Emergency Management Director Amy Terrapin hosted a room full of visitors Tuesday morning for a variety of government entities from throughout the county. City and township representatives visited with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Kansas Department of Emergency Management (KDEM) representatives and shared facts and figures of added expenses and losses incurred following the recent snowstorms.

Terrapin said that in order for Wabaunsee County to qualify for emergency funding, a loss of $3.57 per county resident, or approximately $25,000 would have to occur. That threshold was easily met. Additionally, the State of Kansas will have to incur additional expenses of $3.34 million. Terrapin added that number will also be reached. After compiling those estimates the federal government will determine whether or not they will make a presidential declaration of a disaster. If that happens, FEMA money will be made available to local entities.

Those attending the Tuesday morning meeting included members from Alma, Farmer, Garfield, Kaw, Maple Hill, Mill Creek, Mission Creek, Newbury, Rock Creek, Wabaunsee and Washington Townships; Alma, Paxico and Maple Hill Cities; and the Lake Wabaunsee Improvement District. Terrapin said that the Tuesday meeting was an opportunity to put together general, preliminary damage assessments. She added that in addition to those attending this meeting, school districts, the sheriff's department and the Wabaunsee County Road and Bridge Department will also qualify for assistance.



Copyright 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise, Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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