(KAIR)--Atchison County remains under an emergency disaster declaration due to

this spring’s heavy rains and flooding.

On Tuesday, the Atchison County Commission moved to renew the disaster declaration for Atchison County.

The declaration, citing the flooding that occurred in May and June, states that "the flooding conditions and obstructions continue to exist, and continue to endanger health, safety, and welfare of persons and property within the borders of Atchison County."

The disaster declaration gives the County the ability to take certain actions to handle the affects of flooding, per the Kansas Emergency Preparedness Act of 1975.

Unanimous approval was granted for renewal, with Commissioners Jack Bower and Eric Noll voting in the affirmative. Commissioner Henry Pohl was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

Meanwhile, due to the flooding, a major local area travel route remains closed.
U.S. Highway 59, east of the City of Atchison, located in Buchanan County, Missouri, is still shutdown.

It remains unknown just how long the closure, which took effect May 21, will remain in place.