Kiowa County/Greensburg Update 6-4-07

KIOWA COUNTY/GREENSBURG
Public Information Update
Monday, June 04, 2007 8:30 a.m.

HWY. 54 TO OPEN TODAY The Kansas Department of Transportation will open Highway 54 to general traffic at noon today. Access to side streets will be available only at Bay, Main, Pine and Olive. All traffic laws will be enforced. Individuals without a purpose should remain out of the city during the recovery effort. Please be advised that Highway 54 will not open prior to noon today. You will be asked to take the alternate routes until noon.

ADVISORY FOR TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 54 Please use caution when driving on Highway 54 through Greensburg. Debris may still be present on the roads. Beware of dump trucks in the area - and do not follow these vehicles too closely.

ID BADGES FOR RESIDENTS From 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. starting today ID badges will be available for residents. Residents can sign up for a badge by going to the Volunteer Reception Center at the Red and White tent in Davis Park. Residents are asked to provide some form of identification such as a driver’s license. ID badges are intended to provide residents with easier access to their property but are not required.

GREENSBURG MAIL There is a post office in Greensburg now. It is at the old location of the post office. You can get your mail in town by signing up for a box by coming in. Their hours are: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Contact 620-723-2341 for questions.

A TOWN HALL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE PLANNING PROCESS AND LONG TERM RECOVERY efforts in Greensburg will be held Thursday, June 7 at Davis Park. The Lions Club will provide a picnic dinner at 5 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the large red and white tent.

CHANGE OF MEAL LOCATIONS:
· Base camp will serve the last meal on June 11th. The last hot meal will be breakfast. A bag lunch will be available that day. Meals will be served at the following locations starting dinner time June 11th.
· Lighthouse Worship Center 804 W. Wisconsin. Red and yellow tent. Will serve hot meals Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. Beverages will be available throughout the day.
· Methodist Church 600 W. Lincoln. Meals available: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.-lunch and 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.-dinner. They will provide snacks throughout the day.
· Salvation Army In Dillons parking lot. 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Lunch served 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Dinner served 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Muffins and coffee available for breakfast. Beverages provided throughout the day.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WIRELESS CHARGES Alltel Wireless will work with Greensburg wireless customers to make special arrangements related to service overages or late fees following the tornado. Alltel customer service can be reached at 1-800-ALLTEL1.
Property owners have until June 15 to begin or commit to debris removal for their property. After that date, the city will begin the process to evaluate the properties for possible demolition by the city. Properties would be assessed the costs associated with this removal.
A Structural Engineer Inspection is Needed for property owners who wish to rebuild a home or business. This is required before a building permit can be issued.

SEVERE WEATHER SHELTERS IN GREENSBURG are located at the Carriage House assisted living facility, 723 S. Elm; at Kiowa Co. Memorial Hospital, 501 S. Walnut; at Kiowa Co. Courthouse, 211 E. Florida, and at the CO-OP grain elevator scalehouse at Ohio & Main. The Best Western hotel is NO LONGER a storm shelter.

NEW HOUSING PROGRAMS TO AID GREENSBURG RECONSTRUCTION. Reconstruction assistance programs are available through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation - 785-296-5865 or www.kshousingcorp.org.

WATER SERVICE REGAINED. Officials are continuing to test and turn on the water lines to areas of Greensburg. Contact City Hall at 620-723-2751 with questions about water restoration or to report water leaks.

WASHER/DRYER SERVICE IS AVAILABLE at Haviland Park under the water tower for public use.

EVERYONE INVOLVED IN DEBRIS CLEAN-UP IS ENCOURAGED TO WEAR PROPER CLOTHING AND RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.
Protect yourself with gloves, hard soled shoes or boots, and respiratory masks as necessary. If you have a cut or a scratch that does not heal normally, seek necessary medical attention.

HELP SPEED UP DEBRIS REMOVAL by placing it in the right of way. Keep debris at least three feet from utility poles, fire hydrants and water and gas meters. Call City Hall with debris removal questions at 620-723-2751. Debris removal will be ending soon, so residents are encouraged to take advantage of the free removal service.

C&D LANDFILL HOURS are 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

SRS REOPENS LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO DISASTER COUNTIES. Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) will reopen the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Monday, June 4th to aid residents in Kiowa, Pratt, Stafford and Edwards counties. Applications will be accepted through Friday, June 29th. The benefit will consist of a one-time payment to help with energy bills. LIEAP applications are available at any SRS local office or by calling 1-800-432-0043.

KDHE MAINTAINS LIST OF LICENSED ASBESTOS CONTRACTORS. Private contractors must be KDHE licensed to remove or demolish any suspected asbestos material. Contact Scott Bangert at 785-296-1689 with questions.

ALL CONTRACTORS MUST REGISTER at Greensburg City Hall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Contract work is prohibited without registration and/or license. Contractors are responsible for hauling jobsite debris. Contractors removing debris or doing demolition from a jobsite must plug any sewer lines.

SEPARATE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND WHITE GOODS (appliances, air conditioners, batteries, paint, pesticides, aerosol cans, propane and compressed gas cylinders) from debris and leave at the curb for EPA to remove. Place waste food items in trash bags and leave at the curb. Garbage trucks will remove this waste. Bags are available at the Lighthouse Worship Center, Scientology tent and Salvation Army at Dillon’s. Protective gloves and masks must be worn when removing food debris.

KIOWA COUNTY OFFICES are located at the Mullinville High School. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. County commission meets at 9 a.m. on Mondays in the County Clerk’s office. The Health Department and Extension office are now located on the west side of the Sheriff’s office. They will be open Monday –Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Health Department number is: 620-723-2136 and the Extension number is: 620-723-2156.

GREENSBURG CITY OFFICES are located on the square. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

CITY OF GREENSBURG ISSUING BUILDING PERMITS at City Hall during regular business hours.

FEMA HIRING FOR LOCAL POSITIONS. Residents and those who worked in Greensburg and have lost their jobs, are being considered for these positions. Call 770-216-3156 or 417-234-3798 or visit the Disaster Recovery Center at Barclay College.

STATE HIRING FOR CLEANUP POSITIONS.
The State Unemployment Group at the Disaster Recovery Center at Barclay College is hiring residents and workers who have lost their jobs to assist with cleanup.

FIRE FIGHTER POSITIONS.
Local residents who were displaced by the tornado and want to work for the Fire Department can get an application at the Emergency Operations Center. The grant-funded position would be for 6 months.

FREE PHONE USE at the square for residents and responders provided by AT&T.

VEHICLE REMOVAL Owners of vehicles in Greensburg that were towed to the south landfill should contact the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office at 620-723-2182 with questions.

THOSE WISHING TO VOLUNTEER MUST CALL 211 (in state) or 1-888-413-4327 (out of state) prior to arrival. Ameri Corp is organizing groups wishing to volunteer. Group leaders must call 314-313-4779. Volunteers must dress appropriately for hazardous working conditions.

GREENSBURG FRAUD TASK FORCE. The Greensburg Fraud Task Force will investigate and prosecute any thefts of federal disaster relief funds. Call 1-800-KS-CRIME with tips.

GREENSURG RESIDENTS can view and inspect a FEMA travel trailer and manufactured home between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the west entrance to Davis Park. A FEMA specialist will be on hand to answer questions.

CALL 911 IF YOU ENCOUNTER A HAZARDOUS SPILL OR LEAK. Never handle damaged or leaking containers. The EPA Spill Line is 913-281-0991.

FUEL AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC PURCHASE AT VOLZ OIL. The public can purchase fuel Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

PROGRESS REPORT:
· Volunteers have contributed 29,899 hours to date.
· EPA has collected 31,966 household hazardous waste items to date.
· Since the storm, workers have hauled 248,647 cubic yards of debris. Debris removed is equivalent to a 13 story building the size of the Greensburg High School Football Field. That’s also equivalent to 74 Olympic swimming pools.

AVAILABLE DISASTER ASSISTANCE:
· The SBA is no longer operating at the Mullinville Disaster Recovery Center
· FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA or www.fema.gov or on the square.
· Contact Kansas Representative Jerry Moran for assistance with the federal government at 620-665-6138.

SAFETY UPDATE:
· Curfew in effect from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
· Obey all traffic laws.
· Treat ALL power lines as if they are live. Call 911 if you observe an arcing power line.
· Leave room for emergency and military vehicles when parking.
· Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water. Seek immediate medical attention if you feel dizzy, nauseated or experience vomiting.
· Burning is prohibited in Greensburg. In rural areas, follow county ordinances. Burning is discouraged in high winds.
· Never enter any building that appears unsafe.
· Respiratory protection is recommended for all workers. Dust masks and safety glasses are available at the Kiowa County Health Department on the square. Over 2,000 dust masks have been provided to workers.
· Kansas Gas Service is testing natural gas lines. If you have concerns about gas odors, call 9-1-1.