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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18,
2007 No. 07-198 POWER OUTAGES DROP TO BELOW 13,500 IN KANSAS; GENERATOR SCAMS BEING
REPORTED Power crews are working to restore service to approximately 13,500 Kansas customers now, and some of those who are still without power are being told it could be a week or more before service is available to them. (Westar has approximately 1,900 customers out of service and Kansas Rural Electric Cooperatives have approximately 11,600 without power). Generator Scams Continue to Be Reported County emergency managers have reported to the state of Kansas and to FEMA that they are receiving reports of vendors going door-to-door in some communities trying to offer services or sell generators and telling the residents they will be reimbursed by FEMA for the cost of the generator or for work in removing storm debris from private property. FEMA officials emphasize that these costs for individuals are not reimbursable under the present emergency declaration in Kansas. In addition, FEMA only reimburses for generators when Individual Assistance has been approved and only when there is documented medical need. Individual Assistance has not been approved in Kansas for this storm. Anyone approached by someone claiming charges to you for work or for
a generator will be reimbursed by FEMA should contact local law enforcement
or the Kansas Attorney General's Office at 1-800-432-2310. Kansas National Guard support Nearly 225 Kansas National Guardsmen have helped Kansas communities deal
with the impact of the ice storm. Approximately 145 soldiers from the
Kansas Army Guard and approximately 80 airmen from the Kansas Air Guard
have performed a variety of missions ranging from search and rescue, clearing
debris from roadways, opening armories as shelters, managing inventory
and staff, and delivering generators, bottled water, and cots throughout
the state. On Monday, members of the 184th Intelligence Wing delivered bottled water
to Chetopa in Labette County. Another storm moving into Kansas Friday Kansas Division of Emergency Management is monitoring the arrival of
another winter storm moving into the state Friday. At this time, the National
Weather Service does not anticipate major winter weather as during the
past week, however, snow and possibly some minor accumulations of ice
are possible and strong winds may be an issue as well. -30- |
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