By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
NATOMA — Area and state leaders, along with representatives of several area agencies, gathered Wednesday in Natoma to share information with those affected by the Dec. 15 wildfires that ravaged the area.
Throughout the almost three-hour meeting offered by the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Livestock Association, attendees heard supportive words from Gov. Laura Kelly and other leaders as many continue to struggle piecing their lives back together.
“We, as a state, cannot come out here for a week or two and help, but we need to stay in constant touch over the next, at least a year, probably longer,” Kelly said. “As we really work through this, this is not going to be something that we can resolve you can resolve in a week or two, this is going to take a long time. So, we need to be sure to stick with you through this time.”
She praised the countless people and organizations that have come together to support those affected.
“All sorts of folks coming out as soon as the fire struck working to mitigate the damage, but also then to start the recovery still, you know, what I saw today was heart-wrenching, to say the least, the fields, the homes,” Kelly said. “But it was also, in some ways, heartwarming, because I also in addition to hearing about the really tragic things that happened to folks, I heard about the really wonderful things that others are doing. The neighbor helping neighbor ranch or helping ranch or folks from out of state coming up in really trying to provide unsolicited aid in recovery. The folks working at the United Methodist Church, you know, providing meals, you three times a day, for what, two weeks, at this point. It's really incredible.”
Kelly also outlined actions she plans to take to help in those recovery efforts.
“One of the things that we plan to do… when the fires were around Ashland, I believe, we passed legislation that eliminated the sales tax on all the supplies, materials for fencing,” Kelly said. “I'm going to be working with our legislators…so that we can put that sales tax exemption for fencing materials, and yes, it will be retroactive.”
She said vital documents from state agencies would also be reproduced free of charge for those in need.
“So, we will, we will look for ways to help,” Kelly said. “And we would welcome if you have suggestions of things that we could do that would make a difference.”
“I just want you to know that we recognize how devastating this is. We recognize how long-running this is going to be. And that we are putting all the resources we possibly can into this, and we will continue to do that. And please, as I said, don't hesitate to reach out if you need something. We want to be there for you.”
Speaking next, First District U.S. Representative Tracy Mann echoed many of Kelly’s remarks.
“Thanks for pulling us together and Farm Bureau and the K.L.A and all of our first responders,” Mann said. “Two weeks ago, the unthinkable happen two weeks tonight. And, and a lot of gratitude goes to everyone that stepped up and got involved over the last couple of weeks.”
Russell and Ellsworth County Emergency Manager Keith Haberer, also shared his gratitude for everyone that has offered assistance.
“I just want to say thank you,” Haberer said. “It's beyond me that that thing raged through here so bad and ravaged so much. It was truly the perfect storm for a firestorm. And you guys got it stopped. And you stopped any loss of life and property damage from getting any worse than it was. And there's a lot of country that it should have continued to ravage over to Lincoln County, but it didn't because y'all got to stop. So, thank you. Thank you.”
Haberer also encouraged anyone that needs assistance going forward to contact his office.
Turning to more practical relief efforts, Kelsey Olson, deputy secretary at Kansas Department of Agriculture shared how to access resources from the KDA, but also spoke to the mental health struggles that can arise in situations like the ones being faced after the fires.
“One of the things that I noticed when I started this job is that there's a lot of stress in agriculture,” Olson said. “I grew up on a farm. I have cattle myself now. And there's daily stress.”
In order to help ag producers with that stress, she said the KDA has developed, a website to help with finding resources that can be seen at kansasagstress.org.
“Sometimes seeking that help that you need is a little bit more than just relying on a conversation with a friend,” Olson said. “And that's okay.”
Kaley Conner, manager of education and outreach at the High Plains Mental Health Center also shared with the group how their organization can help.
“In light of everything else going on, you have so many things you're trying to take care of,” Conner said. “But it's so important that we don't neglect to take care of ourselves and our families and our neighbors as we begin the process of recovery from this event that took place.”
The significant trauma experienced by those in the area is a critical incident, meaning an uncommon response for many.
“Following a critical incident, it is common to experience a wide range of emotional and physical reactions,” Connor said.
“It's important to talk to others, openly and honestly about your experiences and about how you're feeling,” she said. “I call it venting, you know, venting can really help right now, if you can find that person that you trust that you can be open and honest with friends and neighbors, people who are here today to support, one of the most powerful things we can do is just to listen to just be a good listener to just be a shoulder to cry on, that can sometimes be very helpful.”
She said it's also important to make healthy decisions as much as possible.
“If we can try to eat healthy foods, if we can try to maybe get a little bit of exercise and physical activity, if we can try to get a decent amount of sleep every night or most nights, I'm sure that's not always going to be possible for you, but those three things are the big three that can really help alleviate stress in difficult circumstances,” Connor said. “It's also important, you know, to the extent possible, if you can make any time for leisure activities for hobbies that you enjoy doing, it can be anything from, you know, spending a few minutes out in nature, or spending time with a family member grabbing coffee with a friend, connecting with your community, any of those activities that are healthy that you enjoy, that can help possibly relieve some of the stress again, that you might be feeling.”
Finding and completing routine activities can also help maintain a sense of control, perhaps easing the stress of loss and uncertainty.
Currently, she said High Plains is offering services in Osbourne and Hays, and critical incident stress management services available to eight affected communities at no cost. Clarified 9:45 a.m. Monday
“So, if there's ever a need to have a therapist come in and just be available and just provide some trauma debriefing services for the community and for those affected, please call us in and we would be very happy to take that call and to work with you and to help to the extent that we can,” Connor said.
Outside of the discussions of self-care, access points and instructions on how to seek relief from government agencies were featured prominently during the meeting.
Agriculture Program Specialist at USDA-Farm Service Agency Todd Barrows spoke about the livestock indemnity program and the emergency loss program, outlining what livestock is eligible and explained in detail the forms needed to seek relief from those programs.
Josh Ridder, USDA-FSA farm loan chief, shared what financial resources are available.
Carla Wikoff, USDA-FSA shared information about the emergency conservation program.
“It's a program that's not active continually,” Wikoff said “It just happens when there is some type of natural disaster in the area.”
She said requests to activate the program in Russell, Osbourne, Ellis, Graham, Trego and Wichita counties had already been received.
The program is currently awaiting national approval.
Representatives of the National Resource Natural Resources Conservation Service also presented resources available through their office as well as fencing requirements as producers rebuild.
Locally, Heather Lyle, treasurer with the Paradise United Methodist Church, outlined how those seeking assistance can apply for relief from the donation fund through two applications, for those that lost homes during the incident, and those otherwise affected.
Wrapping up the meeting, Matt Teagarden, Kansas Livestock association CEO, shared ways they will continue to support those in need as well, including access to hay feed and fencing supplies.
“Let me make clear this is available to all Kansas producers,” Teagarden said. “It isn't reliant on KLA membership or anything like that. If you suffered a loss due to the weather on the 15th of December, you're eligible, fill out this application and get it submitted.”
For more information about relief efforts, visit the KLA website, kla.org, the KFB website, kfb.org, or the Kansas Department of Agriculture.