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Osage County declares state of local disaster emergency after early-June floods
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-014 proclaiming a local state of disaster emergency after mid-June rain caused damage to roads and bridges; the resolution authorizes use of Kansas Emergency Preparedness Act powers and sets a seven-day duration unless extended.
The Osage County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2025-014 Thursday, proclaiming a state of local disaster emergency after heavy rains between June 3 and June 7 caused significant damage to township and county roads.
The action: The resolution, adopted by motion and recorded as "motion carries," states that flooding and related damage created obstructions that endanger health, safety and property across Osage County and invokes authority under KSA 48-932 and the Kansas Emergency Preparedness Act of 1975. The proclamation covers the entire county and remains in effect for up to seven days unless the governing body terminates or renews it.
Why it matters: The declaration allows county officials to use emergency powers to coordinate repairs and to request state reimbursement for eligible damage. County emergency management staff told commissioners that multiple townships submitted damage estimates above the state threshold for disaster assistance; the county's threshold was stated as $74,415.52 in the discussion.
Details and process: Lynn Atchison, director of emergency management (identified in the meeting as the director of emergency management for a county office), reported that agencies and townships were asked to submit damage estimates to the state. The county's report included Valley Brook Township (reported $159,000) and another township reporting $79,000; commissioners noted they were still expecting some submissions. Staff asked the board to sign a resolution so the county could submit documentation to the state to seek reimbursement for emergency repairs.
Vote: A motion to adopt Resolution 2025-014 was made and seconded; commissioners voiced "aye" votes and the chair announced the motion carried.
Next steps: Staff will collect damage reports and forward the resolution to the state Office of Emergency Management as part of the reimbursement request. The commission will receive the required signatures and the item will be tracked by the emergency-management department for follow-up reporting.
Context: Commissioners discussed the schedule and administrative deadlines for state disaster reimbursement and asked staff to provide copies of township damage documentation to county administration for submission.
