President Bush Prepares For Greensburg, Kansas Photo Op

Emergency Management agencies prepare to rebuild Greensburg

(5/9/2007) - Residents of Greensburg are preparing for a visit from President George W. Bush on Wednesday, May 9. The President signed a federal disaster declaration for Kiowa County on May 6 at the request of Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

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At the same time, local, state, and federal officials in Kiowa County are developing short-term and long-term plans to recover from the May 5 tornado and rebuild the town of Greensburg.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has provided a mobile broadcasting unit to provide updated emergency information to the residents of Greensburg. The low power transmission unit will allow residents in a very limited area to tune to 1610 AM to receive these updated broadcasts.

Search and rescue efforts continue throughout the area at the present time.

Debris continues to be cleared from public right of way to allow for ease of transportation throughout the area and provide access to private property. Anyone who will be assisting with debris removal will be required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. Locations have been identified where that debris is being transported and disposed. A burn ban is in effect in Kiowa County without the approval of the Board of County Commissioners.

Locations have been identified and temporary structures are being developed to provide housing for city and county government.

A number of insurance carriers have begun processing claims and are headquartered at the Interstate Inn on the east end of Greensburg.

Law enforcement authorities in the Kiowa County area have recovered a significant number of personal firearms during the initial search and rescue. Those firearms have been secured and will be returned when proof of ownership is confirmed.

According to the Kansas Department of Labor, Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for workers affected by the severe weather in Kiowa County. Assistance is available to qualifying residents of Kiowa County pursuant to the President’s federal disaster declaration. All workers are encouraged to apply for regular unemployment benefits. The DUA program covers persons that may be not covered under the regular unemployment insurance program.

Applications for unemployment insurance may be filed at the Disaster Center located in the gymnasium at Barclay College in Haviland beginning at 8am on Wednesday, May 9. Kansas Department of Labor staff will be on site May 9, 10 and 11 to assist workers in filing applications.

Kingman, Neosho and Wabaunsee Counties have declared local disaster emergencies due to flooding, bringing the total number of local flood declarations to 27. Other counties with flood disaster declarations are Barton, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Edwards, Ellsworth, Geary, Harper, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Lyon, Nemaha, Osage, Osborne, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Shawnee, Stafford and Washington Counties.

It was reported earlier that Clark County officials had declared a local disaster emergency. That report was not correct. Clark County currently has no disaster declaration.

The Kansas National Guard has 361 soldiers and 114 airmen on duty in response to the Greensburg tornado, in addition to four command vehicles, plus generators and light sets to support emergency operations. Eight other Guardsmen are assisting authorities in Elwood with levee security.

The Civil Air Patrol is conducting photo reconnaissance flights over the Missouri and Smoky Hill Rivers. There is a temporary flight restriction in effect over the Greensburg area for non-authorized aircraft.

Source: National Guard