TOPEKA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied an appeal made by Governor Sam Brownback regarding a request for a federal disaster declaration for a number of Kansas counties affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding May 22-31, according to a media release.

Brownback’s original request for a federal declaration for the public assistance grant and hazard mitigation grant program funds statewide was denied. The counties named in the request were Barton, Butler, Chase, Cheyenne, Clark, Clay, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ford, Franklin, Greenwood, Harvey, Hodgeman, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Lyon, Morris, Ness, Osage, Ottawa, Rawlins, Rooks, Scott, Sherman, Thomas, Wabaunsee, and Wyandotte.

Brownback filed the appeal with FEMA on Aug. 31. In a letter dated Sept. 29, FEMA denied the appeal, stating the agency reaffirmed its original findings that the damages caused by the storms did not warrant a major disaster declaration.