Saline County adopts local disaster declaration after record snowstorm

The Saline County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on Jan. 7 to adopt Resolution 25-2420, formally declaring a local state of disaster in the county following a record single-day snowstorm.

Michelle Weiss, director of emergency management, told the board the county had received "13 plus inches of snow throughout the county" in a single storm and that the governor had already declared a state emergency on Jan. 4. "So far, we have 13 plus inches of snow throughout the county," Weiss said, adding that the declaration will allow the county to seek state and federal assistance and reimbursement "for the time and equipment and repairs that needed to be done throughout the storm."

The board heard no public comment before taking action. A motion to adopt Resolution 25-2420 was made and seconded; the chair called the vote and the motion passed 4-0.

Why it matters: A local disaster declaration changes the county’s access to resources after an emergency. Weiss said the declaration permits additional state resources to be made available if needed and allows the county to apply for reimbursement of response costs.

The board approved the resolution during its regular meeting and instructed staff to assemble documentation for state and federal declarations and reimbursement applications. The resolution was recorded on the meeting minutes as adopted by a unanimous vote.

The meeting record does not specify a timeline for reimbursement requests or which specific county departments will submit claims; those details were described generally as "getting our numbers together."