Harvey County declares state of local disaster emergency

Laura McMillan
·2 min read

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — Residents of Harvey County continue to clean up and assess the damage done by straight-line winds on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the Harvey County Commission unanimously voted to approve a local disaster emergency declaration for the entire county.

The appraiser’s office is assessing damage in Halstead and Burrton over the next several days. The county will submit the information to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to see if the county qualifies for aid and reimbursements.

Storm Track 3 Forecast: Rainfall expected tonight, severe threat Thursday

The American Red Cross is also compiling damage assessments. People with significant damage to their homes or needing cleaning supplies can call 800-RedCross. The Red Cross also says if residents feel anxious or uncertain and need someone to talk to, they can call 800-985-5990.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, just over 1,500 Evergy customers remain without power. The Harvey County Health Department closed Tuesday due to the power outage but hopes to reopen on Wednesday. West Park does not have power yet, and the bait shop there is closed until power is restored.

Some roads are closed due to downed power lines and debris. They include, but are not limited to:

  • North River Park Road from West First Street to Northwest 12th Street

  • South Anderson Road from Southwest 36th Street to Southwest 60th Street

  • Southwest 14th Street from Cow Palace Road to South Plum Street

  • Southwest 24th Street from South Hoover Road to South West Road

  • Southwest 84th Street from South Sand Hill Road to South Prairie Lake Road.

People who live in unincorporated parts of the county can contact the Harvey County Planning, Zoning and Environmental Department for guidance on permitting for construction. Permits are required for all structures. However, roofing and siding replacements do not need a permit.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a verbal state of disaster emergency proclamation Monday morning.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.