More than $33.6 million in federal public assistance has been obligated to the state of Kansas to repair disaster-related damages from the tornadoes and storms of May 22 through June 16, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Thursday.

The funds help Kansas’ government entities and eligible private non-profits repair storm damage, rebuild infrastructure, and help with emergency costs such as debris removal and overtime for emergency workers.

It is the second disaster recovery effort FEMA has administered in Kansas in 2008.

“Federal disaster assistance plays an important role in the recovery process for local and state governments and the constituents they serve.” said Thomas A. Hall, the federal coordinating officer for Kansas recovery. “We have an ongoing commitment to all Kansans”

Fifty-four counties were eligible for federal disaster assistance under the presidential declaration.

The declaration authorized funding through FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Program, which pays 75% of eligible costs. The remaining 25% of the cost is split between the state, which provides 10% of the funding, and the local applicant, which provides 15%. The cost of the recovery effort exceeded $44.7 million and included more than 714 projects from 223 applicants.

Once FEMA obligates funds to the state disbursement to applicants is the responsibility of the state in accordance with the state public assistance administrative plan.

The counties are Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Franklin, Gove, Graham, Harper, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jewell, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, Linn, Logan, Mitchell, Montgomery, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Saline, Seward, Sheridan, Smith, Stafford, Sumner, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wilson.

The following amounts, by assistance category, have been obligated as the federal share to date.

Category Total

Debris Removal $1,687,135

Emergency Protective Measures $352,592

Roads and Bridges $6,178,405

Public Buildings $18,978,124

Public Utilities $6,040,767

Parks and Recreation $200,022

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

(Below are some of the pictures of storm-related damage from the mentioned time period.)