News from
The Adjutant General's Department

CONTACT:
Sharon Watson
Director, Public Affairs Office
Work: (785) 274-1192
Cell: (785) 806-4063
http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 29, 2009

No. 09-037            

FIVE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO STORMS; RAINS AND RIVER LEVELS CAUSE FOR MORE FLOOD CONCERNS

A severe storm system that moved into Kansas Saturday, April 25 brought tornadoes, hail, high winds and heavy rains, causing flooding and flash floods in several counties has resulted in the deaths of three men and one woman from drowning and other man killed by lightning.

The first victim was a Lawrence man killed by lightning in Jefferson County on Saturday while riding with a group of motorcyclists on U.S. Highway 24 headed west toward Lawrence. Another man in the group was treated at a Topeka hospital and released.

A 58-year-old Leavenworth man drowned Monday, April 27, while attempting to clean a spill drain in a private pond three miles east of Easton. The second drowning victim was a 20-year-old man from Yates Center whose body was found in a farm field near Quincy after flood waters had subsided. The victim had been one of three occupants of a truck that was forced off the road by floodwaters Monday night.

The remaining two deaths occurred in Labette County. According to the sheriff’s department, at approximately 1:30 a.m. today, search and rescue teams located a car overturned and submerged in Pumpkin Creek under approximately 10 feet of water. The car contained the bodies of a 22-year-old Springfield, Mo., woman and a 26-year-old Parson man who had been reported missing Tuesday evening. It is believed the vehicle was traveling westbound on 15000 Road and was swept off the low-water crossing into the creek.

Forecasts indicate more flooding possibilities

With current forecasts calling for chances of thunderstorms ranging from 20 to 80 percent throughout much of the state, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management partially activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka Tuesday, April 28, to monitor river levels and prepare for any emergency response that may be requested.

Butler, Harper, Reno, Sumner and Wabaunsee Counties have issued local disaster declarations because of flooding. Butler County officials reported approximately 10 homes with water on the first floor.

In Harper County, approximately 100 homes may have flooding in basements and another 12 with water in the first floor. A hospital and school building were reported with water in the first floor. Harper County emergency management officials also report damage to a number of roads and bridges.

In Lyon County, officials reported conducting a swift water rescue earlier today.

Flood warnings have been issued for several communities along the Marais des Cygnes River, Arkansas River, Walnut River, Pottawatomite Creek, Neosho River, Cottonwood River and Verdigris River.

Flash flood watches have been issued for the following counties:

• Effective from 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through 7:00 a.m. Thursday — Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte.
• Effective from 1:00 Wednesday through Thursday morning — Anderson, Coffey, Dickinson, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Jefferson, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee.
• Effective Wednesday through Friday morning — Allen, Butler, Chautauqua, Chase, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Labette, Marion, McPherson, Montgomery, Neosho, Reno, Rice Saline, Sedgwick, Sumner, Wilson and Woodson.
• Effective Wednesday evening through Friday morning — Bourbon, Cherokee and Crawford.

Information for flood victims

FEMA’s FloodSmart Team, KDEM and health officials are urging that people who have been affected by flooding use caution when returning to their homes. These warnings include:

• First, check for damage. Check for structural damage before re-entering your home. Contact professionals immediately if you suspect damage to water, gas, electric or sewer lines.
• Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters.
• Boil water until authorities declare the water supply safe to drink.

Clean Up

• Remove wet contents immediately to prevent mold. Wet carpeting, furniture, bedding and other items holding moisture can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours. During the first 48 hours, you can help control mold growth by cleaning with a phenolic or pine-oil cleaner (non-ammonia detergent, soap or commercial cleaner) and disinfecting with a 10 percent bleach solution (1-1/2 cups of bleach in a gallon of water). Then dry and monitor for several days. If any mold develops, throw the item away.
• Thoroughly dry out the building’s interior. Portable dehumidifiers are useful, and rental costs may be covered under your flood policy. An air conditioner can also be used to start the drying-out process.
• Help damaged walls dry out. If the walls are damaged, take photographs of the baseboard. Then remove the baseboard.  Knock small holes at floor level in the drywall, between the wall studs. This will let moisture trapped behind the drywall seep out.
• Have your furnace checked for damage. Your water heater may work, but if the floodwater covered part of, or the entire tank, the insulation between the walls may be damaged. Obtain an estimate to replace the damaged furnace and water heater.

Filing Flood Insurance Claims

• Call your insurance agent who handles your flood insurance to file a claim. Have the following information with you when you place your call: (1) the name of your insurance company (your agent may write policies for more than one company); (2) your policy number; and (3) a telephone number/e-mail address where you can be reached. 
• Take photos of any water in the house and damaged personal property. If necessary, place these items outside the home. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage and damaged items (e.g., cut swatches from carpeting) to prepare your repair estimate.
• List damaged or lost items and include their age and value where possible. If possible, supply receipts for those lost items to the adjuster. Officials may require disposal of damaged items. If so, try to keep a swatch or other sample of the items for the adjuster. 
• Contact your local building inspections or planning office or county clerk’s office to get more information on local building requirements before repairing your structure. If you can’t find a local contact, call your state National Flood Insurance Plan coordinator. Contact information can be found at www.floods.org/statepocs/stcoor.asp.        

For more information, visit FloodSmart.gov. To protect your property with a flood insurance policy, call your insurance agent or call 1-800-427-2419 to find an agent near you. 

For additional flooding information, go to www.kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral and http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/Emergency%20Information.htm#Flood .

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