Volume 45 - Issue 19- May 7, 2026
State of Kansas
Office of the Governor
State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Kansas Emergency Management Act, Chapter 48, Article 9, of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, to meet the inherent dangers of disasters to which the State and its citizens have been exposed, and upon advice of the State Adjutant General as the Director of the Division of Emergency Management, I hereby proclaim a State of Disaster Emergency as follows:
NATURE OF THE DISASTER
Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through Kansas from Saturday, April 25, through Monday, April 27. On Saturday, the core impacts occurred in central Kansas due to rain, hail, and damaging wind gusts. More intense activity occurred Sunday into Monday, with a few tornadoes, strong winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. A widespread two to six inches of rainfall occurred along I-70 between Salina and Kansas City, which created flash flooding and flooding, creating overtopped roadways and sporadic water rescues. Rivers and streams within the areas that received heavy rainfall, as well as those downstream, will continue to rise as runoff occurs. Minor to moderate flooding is expected, with the most significant flooding anticipated along the Marais Des Cygnes River.
DATE THAT DISASTER AFFECTED THE AREA
April 25-27, 2026
AREA AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER
Cherokee
Montgomery
Wabaunsee
I hereby proclaim, direct and order the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas to activate the disaster response and recovery portions of the Kansas Response Plan and to utilize all available resources of the state to cope with the disaster as necessary. The Adjutant General shall coordinate local and inter-jurisdictional disaster plans applicable to the political subdivisions of areas affected by this Proclamation.
Any or all of the powers conferred upon the Governor by the Kansas Emergency Management Act may be delegated to the Adjutant General as deemed appropriate during this period of proclaimed State of Disaster Emergency. This may be delegated by written orders, or oral orders subsequently reduced to writing with reference to this Proclamation.
I hereby suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business, or the order or rules and regulations of any state agency which implements such statute, if strict compliance with the provisions of such statutes, order or rule and regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay in any way necessary action in coping with the disaster as set forth in KSA 48-925(c)(1).
This Proclamation shall be filed promptly with the Division of Emergency Management, the Office of the Secretary of State and each city clerk or county clerk, as appropriate, in the area to which this Proclamation applies. Further dissemination of this Proclamation shall occur by means calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public.
PROCLAIMED and MEMORIALIZED under the Great Seal of the State this 27th day of April 2026.
Laura Kelly
Governor
State of Kansas
Doc. No. 054125
