President Donald Trump has granted a request from Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D. for a federal disaster declaration for several Kansas counties affected by severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, and flooding from Sept. 1 through Sept. 8, 2018. I want to thank President Trump on behalf of the people of Kansas for this federal disaster declaration, said Colyer. We will continue to do whatever is needed to help those impacted by the recent severe storms. Counties named in declaration are Barber, Clay, Kingman, Kiowa, Marshall, Pratt, Rice, and Riley for the federal Public Assistance Program. The declaration also activates the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide for the same period. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments. The Public Assistance Program allows local governments and certain nonprofit organizations to apply for funds to help recover costs associated with response and recovery to the disaster, such as debris removal and restoration of vital infrastructure.