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National Guard helping feed cattle, restore powerRanchers hotline set up Kansas The Kansas National Guard is using Black Hawk helicopters Jan. 4 to feed stranded cattle Jan. 4 in western Kansas following severe winter storms that blanketed much of Western Kansas starting Dec. 28, 2006. Ranchers who have stranded cattle and are unable to get feed or water to them are asked to contact Kansas Emergency Management at 785-274-1446. They may also request assistance at www.ksready.gov by clicking on the Ag Emergency icon. "We have been working diligently to ensure the people of western Kansas have what they need and we also want to make sure we protect the state's economic interests," said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Kansas adjutant general. Two Black Hawk helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation flew from Goodland, Kan., Jan. 4 to move hay in the Wallace, Logan and Cheyenne County areas. The 137th Transportation Company is also involved in hauling hay to affected areas using flatbed trailers and other large vehicles. A number of other Kansas National Guard units are assisting with power restoration and other missions across the affected areas. These units include the 891st Engineer Battalion; 778th Transportation Company; 1st Battalion, 635th Armor; 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, 169th Corps Support Battalion; 69th Troop Command; 287th Sustainment Brigade; 995th Maintenance Company; 235th Regiment, 170th Maintenance Company; 184th Air Refueling Wing, 134th Air Control Squadron and 190th Air Refueling Wing. Approximately 134 Kansas National Guard personnel are involved in these missions. Additional personnel are coordinating these efforts at the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka. As of Jan. 2, it was estimated that approximately 60,000 people were without power in several Western Kansas counties. Since that time, power has been restored in some areas. Currently, there are 23,000 electric meters out, and these meters each serve homes or businesses. Updated estimates on the number of people without power are not yet available. The Kansas National Guard is also providing emergency generators and operation personnel to some communities to provide power to water treatment plants and other critical facilities. These generators are being moved to other locations as power is restored. Command posts are being established at the armories in Garden City and Hays to direct activities of responding Guard units. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Operations Center Dec. 28 and it will remain activated throughout the storm to coordinate the response and recovery needed by local governments impacted by the storm. Governor Sebelius has requested a federal declaration and an agricultural declaration of disaster for a 44 county area. A state declaration was issued Dec. 30 and amended to included additional counties as the storm progressed. The counties in the disaster declaration area include: Cheyenne, Clark, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Gove, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita. 0 None None Date: 1/25/07
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