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Reno County emergency management director explains disaster declaration thresholds and reimbursement process
Summary
Emergency Management Director Adam Weiss briefed the board on the county’s disaster declaration process, describing local cost thresholds, mutual aid and how state/federal reimbursement works.
Adam Weiss, Reno County emergency management director, briefed the Board of Commissioners on the county’s disaster declaration process and thresholds for state and federal assistance.
Weiss said when a disaster strikes county staff request an emergency declaration from the commission, often via a verbal call to the chair to obtain immediate resources. The board later signs the declaration at a regular meeting, Weiss said. He described the county’s fiscal responsibility threshold as roughly $290,000 in eligible local costs; when the county reaches that figure and the state’s $5.5 million threshold is met, the county may then qualify for federal public assistance. Weiss said qualifying federal reimbursement can return up to 75% of eligible costs with the state typically contributing an additional 10%.
He also discussed Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG), which have a lower threshold (about $277,000) and permit quicker emergency firefighting resource requests and partial reimbursement. Weiss said state teams, helicopters, personal protective equipment and mutual aid from surrounding counties have been used in recent incidents.
Ending: Weiss urged the commission to expect the county’s busiest disaster period to coincide with wildfire and severe‑weather seasons, and asked commissioners to allow verbal emergency declarations when rapid action is needed so the county can immediately request state resources and later pursue reimbursement.
