Cowley County is one of 11 Kansas counties named in a state disaster declaration by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Anderson, Butler, Chase, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Lyon, Russell, Sedgwick and Sumner counties were also affected by severe storms, heavy rains and flooding that began Sept. 11.
The flooding forced campers to evacuate the Winfield Fairground just a few days before the annual Walnut Valley Festival was to begin. The festival was able to begin on time and parking was available, but campers were not able to return.
Cowley County Emergency Manager Brian Stone said a very preliminary damage assessment indicated the county sustained $650,000 in damage. The figure included damage to township and county roads as well as the fairground. The time involved in preparing for the flooding, such as setting up roadblocks, is also considered emergency protective measures.
"That was an early estimate," Stone said. "The water hadn’t completely receded (when the report was prepared)."
The tab may go higher as crews get out and do a more thorough assessment, he said.
The entire fairground was under water, including the grandstand and barns. Representatives from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will tour Cowley County and visit with government leaders about damage assessments.
Once the information is compiled, it will be forwarded to the governor and then on to FEMA, Stone said.
"Although people often think of tornadoes as the big destructive force of nature in Kansas, floods can be just as damaging, if not more so,’ Sebelius said. "While tornadoes are generally limited in scope, floods affect many, many square miles, destroying or damaging roads, bridges, power lines and other vital infrastructure."
The declaration signed by Sebelius will help county governments restore the infrastructure and get things back to normal for their citizens as quickly as possible, she said.
The joint assessments are expected to begin in approximately two weeks.
