Labette County commissioners on Friday extended for 14 days a disaster declaration based on the frigid temperatures the area experienced last week. Charlie Morse, Emergency Operations director, introduced the declaration, the second one approved by the commission. The first declaration will expire on Monday. Without keeping such a declaration in place, communities such as Altamont and Chetopa, which are facing the prospect of steep increases in utility bills tied to the frigid temperatures, could not benefit from a federal disaster declaration if one comes. Morse said some Kansas counties have approved declarations as has the state. So far the federal government only made a disaster declaration for Texas. Morse didn’t think Kansas would see such a declaration anytime soon.
Source: Parsons Sun
