Pratt county estimates $250,000 in uninsured losses from Labor Day flood

Uninsured county losses from the Sept. 3 Labor Day flood in Pratt could reach $250,000. Tim Branscom, Pratt County Emergency Manager, presented the damage assessment to the Pratt County Commissioners at their Sept. 17 meeting.

Branscom said the damage assessment ranges from $225,000 to $250,000 and includes all non-insured losses to the county. Most of the damage was to country roads, Pratt County Veteran’s Memorial Lake and Lemon Park Lake that is part of the fish hatchery water system. The Lemon Park Lake will have to be drained and dredged because of pollutants from the flood.

The county threshold for submitting uninsured losses for financial assistance is $34,000 and the county will have no trouble meeting that, Branscom said.

Branscom said the estimated damage to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism was $2 million. That included damage to the headquarters building and contents, fish hatchery, vehicles, fishing ponds, hatchery ponds and loss of fish. The fish loss was estimated at $50,000, Branscom said.