Public works and emergency staff report flooding, boil advisory and prepositioned water rescue teams

County staff provided a June 4 update on storms and flooding that affected parts of Franklin County, reporting temporary power loss at Wellsville's water plant that triggered a boil-water advisory, multiple road closures, and prepositioned state water-rescue resources.

A county staff member said storms had damaged a power pole in Wellsville and interrupted service from Evergy, causing the town's water plant to lose power and experience generator problems. "When their pressure goes below 18 PSI, they go in an automatic, boil advisory," the staff member said. He said Wellsville's system had returned to service and that the county expected lab tests from "KDHG" (as stated in the meeting) to determine when the advisory could be lifted.

Staff reported river and creek levels and short-term forecasts: Potawatomi Creek was reported near 20–22 feet with a forecast crest around 24 feet near 01:00 a.m.; Merdizine was reported near 30 feet with a predicted crest near 32 feet. The county also said it had a log jam on the Merdizine and several roads closed. The state of Kansas had prepositioned Kansas Task Force 2 and Kansas search rescue Task Force 5 water-rescue units from Manhattan, Junction City and Salina; staff said those were state-driven missions that the county could request if needed.

Staff noted plans for EMS coverage where roads are impassable and said local fire departments would cover certain areas while some routes remain closed. Commissioners and staff discussed staging for response and that the county has plans in place for areas that become isolated by floodwater.

No formal emergency declaration or additional commission action was recorded during the update.