By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Five months later, the strong winds and hail associated with the July 16 storm that ripped through Great Bend are still impacting area property owners. At Monday's USD 428 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Khris Thexton said the district is ready for a second call with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"For loss, we're at 1.48 million," he told the board. "Probably half of that, I would say, would be the roof at Lincoln because it's a full replace, then amongst all the other things that were damaged and destroyed in that storm."
As of Monday, the district had received $673,000 from insurance to help cover costs. Expenses and insurance payments will continue to change as projects are completed. The roof at Lincoln Elementary will not be replaced until this summer. FEMA will further help the district offset expenses from the storm.
"The big thing about FEMA is we are on the hook for the $25,000 deductible," Thexton said. "FEMA will help us cover that cost going through this process. Even though it's a lot of work getting the paperwork to FEMA, I'd rather let them help shoulder the $25,000 than us."
The district went through a similar process when winds from a Dec. 15, 2021 storm caused damage at Great Bend High School, resulting in a cancelation of classes at the school the following day.