By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After the second round of rain fell on Ellis County Tuesday night, officials have declared a state of local disaster emergency.

Ellis County Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers said Wednesday the rain Tuesday washed away a lot of the progress public works crews has made after the weekend rains.

The northeastern portion of Ellis County received the most rain Saturday night and into Sunday, with residents around the Catharine area reporting 7-plus inches of rain. The same area received another inch or more Tuesday.

At Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Director of Public Works Bill Ring said a number of bridges and roads were washed out by the floodwaters.

Crews are also unable to determine all of the damage because they have to let the water recede in places.

Myers said, with all of the bridges over the Saline River, they do not know the extent of the damage and the bridges will have to be inspected.

Under a state of disaster, Ellis County must sustain more than $100,000 in damage to meet the threshold for federal assistance from FEMA. But the state also must reach the $4 million threshold to be eligible for federal relief funds.

Myers said the declaration Wednesday will set up the county for the possibility of receiving federal aid, if it is made available.

Russell County commissioners signed an emergency disaster declaration on Tuesday.