Gov. Kelly issues disaster declaration as Hurricane Polo remnants bring flood threat to Kansas

Gov. Laura Kelly declared a verbal state of disaster emergency Wednesday afternoon ahead of heavy rain and potential flash flooding fueled by tropical moisture.

Fire response and evacuations

The declaration authorizes for state resources to be deployed to assist local communities facing flood risks as remnants of Hurricane Polo merge with an early fall storm system over Kansas.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Operations Center to a partial, 24-hour operational status.

Partner agencies—including the Kansas National Guard, State Fire Marshal, KDOT, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the National Weather Service—are coordinating response efforts.

Swift-water search and rescue task forces have also been pre-positioned across the state.

Storm Team 12 says activity will continue through the afternoon before coming to a stop this evening, with widespread rainfall totals between 1 and 3 inches through Thursday evening.

Isolated amounts of 5 or 6 inches are possible.

“Across northern Kansas this rain will fall on saturated soil, leading to potential flash flooding and river flooding,” said the governor’s office.