TOPEKA- A study has found that Kansas saves more money, on average, than any other state that uses federal grants to mitigate natural disasters.
The Pew Charitable Trusts analysis shows that for every $1 of federal funds spent on protecting against flood and tornado damage, Kansas avoided $6.81 in potential recovery costs.
The Kansas News Service reports that Missouri trailed close behind, with each federal dollar saving $6.72.
Researchers calculated savings from avoiding casualties, property repairs and business disruptions, among other factors.
The findings come after the state saw heavy rain and flooding this spring, continuing into the summer.
The study’s co-author says the main takeaway for policymakers is that investing in disaster mitigation pays off.
