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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2007 No. 07-139 MORE SERVICES RESTORED AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDED IN SE KANSAS COUNTIES
AFFECTED BY FLOODING Progress is being made in restoring services and providing assistance
to southeast Kansas communities that experienced damage from flooding
in late June. Water and electrical services have been restored in some
areas, and volunteer centers and donation hotlines have been established
in some communities. Fredonia Volunteer Reception Center Experienced, trained Disaster Relief Teams are now available in Fredonia
for a limited time to assist residents with flood clean up efforts. The
teams can help remove damaged walls, floors, cabinets, and appliances,
and move them to curbside. The continued availability of the teams will
depend on the volume of requests received, so residents needing help are
asked to contact the Fredonia Volunteer Reception Center as soon as possible
at (620) 378-3221. If residents need help to have flood debris hauled
to the Wilson County Landfill, contact the Volunteer Reception Center
to register a request. Volunteers will also be on hand at the Fredonia Volunteer Reception Center
to distribute cleaning kits, hygiene supplies and food and to make arrangements
to help with clean up requests. Current hours are Monday through Saturday,
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance is through the South doors on Madison
Street. The Fredonia Volunteer Reception Center also requests additional community
volunteers to help with recovery efforts. Volunteers are needed to staff
the center, distribute household supplies, answer telephones and register
requests for assistance. Volunteers are also needed to help with clean
up and demolition in affected homes. To volunteer, please contact the
center at (620) 378-3221. Assistance is available for elderly and handicapped residents living
in the flood areas who are unable to clean out their homes. To receive
volunteer assistance, residents should call 620-251-0981 or 620-332-2537.
Volunteers will be assigned to residents needing assistance to remove
debris from the homes. Donations Hotline Established in Independence for goods and services A donations phone hotline has been set up in Independence for volunteers
and donations of either services or goods. The number is (866) 254-1445.
It is being operated by Americorp. Water Emergency in Fredonia Potable water availability has been restored to Fredonia. However, the
water plant has not resumed normal operations and water continues to be
trucked in to supplement the water being produced by the Iowa National
Guard Reverse Osmosis (water filtering) equipment. As a result, the City of Fredonia has made a formal Declaration of a
Water Emergency. Until further notice, Fredonia city residents are bound
by mandatory restrictions to conserve water, as per Ordinance #1173 or
substantial fines will be levied, and water service disconnected. For
details on this ordinance, contact Fredonia City Hall at (620) 378-2231. Water service being restored The Boil Water Order has been lifted for Wilson County Rural Water Districts
5 and 7: Although potable water is now available in these districts, conservation
continues to be essential. Until permanent repairs have been made to the
affected water plants, water production is unable to meet the usual demand.
Wilson County citizens are urged to continue to conserve water until permanent
plant repairs can be made. Conserving water includes: limiting laundry to only essential use, preferably
no more than two full loads per week, limited toilet flushing, no vehicle
washing, no lawn, flower, or garden watering; no filling of swimming pools,
and no livestock watering. Residents are encouraged to try to reduce everyday water usage by at
least half of their normal use during the water shortage. The need for
strict conservation measures is expected to last for at least several
more weeks. Potable water availability has been restored to Altoona, Buffalo,
and Rural Water Districts 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13. However, the
water plant has not yet been restored to normal operations, so residents
should continue to conserve the water that is being trucked in to the
area. Water service has been restored to Neodesha and Rural Water Districts
3, 4, 8 and 12. Residents of these water districts are asked to conserve
water. Electricity Restoration; limited use requested The temporary electric repairs at the power plants are unable to handle
as heavy a load as the normal operating systems. Residents are urged to
limit heavy electric use. In Fredonia, homes that had meters disconnected for safety reasons must
have the electrical systems inspected and certified by a licensed electrician
before power can be restored. In all other areas of the county, please
contact your utility provider for further information. Medical Advisory for those working in flood affected areas The Montgomery County Health Department has issued numerous health advisories
throughout the disaster period to all residents entering areas affected
by floodwater. All residents entering areas affected by flooding throughout southeast
Kansas should wear protective masks, gloves, sturdy footwear and clothing
to protect legs and arms. Do not expose skin to contamination. Exposure
to the mold can cause some individuals to have allergic and respiratory
complications. These individuals should seek medical attention from their
physician. Coffeyville facility under repairs Coffeyville Resources announced that operations are expected to resume
by mid-September at its refinery that was closed earlier this month by
flooding from the nearby Verdigris River. Company employees, supplemented
by nearly 1,000 contract workers, are on site repairing and replacing
equipment damaged by the flood. Waiting Period Waived for Flood-related Unemployment Benefits Workers and businesses impacted by flooding in Southeast Kansas will
receive additional help from the state. Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed an executive order this week allowing
workers unemployed as a result of the flooding to receive unemployment
benefits immediately, as well as making it so business' unemployment insurance
accounts are not charged for disaster- related benefits. This executive order applies to Allen, Cowley, Elk, Labette, Linn, Miami,
Montgomery, Neosho, and Wilson counties. It is similar to Executive Orders
07-11 and 07-14, which lifted similar rules for employees and employers
impacted by the Greensburg tornado in May. Executive orders can be viewed online at http://www.governor.ks.gov/executive/Orders/ Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for workers affected by severe storms and flooding in Allen, Cowley, Labette, and Linn counties. Assistance is available to qualifying residents of these counties pursuant to the President's recent declaration of these counties as a federal disaster area. All workers are encouraged to apply for regular unemployment benefits. DUA benefits are already available for workers affected by the severe
weather in several counties. Workers have 30 days from the announcement of DUA benefits to file applications.
Deadlines for counties currently eligible for DUA are as follows:
Applications for DUA and regular unemployment insurance benefits can
be filed with a Department of Labor staff person at Community Elementary
School, at 102 S. Cline, in Coffeyville. More information about unemployment
insurance is available at the Community Elementary School Disaster Center,
by calling 1-800-292-6333, or online at www.uibenefits.dol.ks.gov. Disaster Assistance Meetings for Farmers and Ranchers A series of Disaster Assistance meetings are scheduled for farmers and
ranchers affected by the June 26 storms and subsequent flooding. Representatives from Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Risk Management Agency, Rural Development, Extension Service,
Kansas Rural Family Helpline, FEMA, Animal Health, Congressional Representatives,
and others will meet with farmers and ranchers to discuss assistance available
for financial, production, and physical losses resulting from the storms
and flooding. The meetings are scheduled for July 24 - 31 at the following times and
locations:
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