On April 26, Barton County Emergency Management received notice that President Barack Obama signed a federal disaster declaration which ordered aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the Feb. 20-23 blizzard, including Barton and surrounding counties, the Barton County Commission learned Monday morning.In a bi-weekly report to the commission read by County Administrator Richard Boeckman, Emergency Management Director Amy Miller noted federal funding is available to eligible local governments and school districts on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures and the repair or replacement of buildings and equipment damaged by the snowstorm. In addition, federal help is available on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance for a continuous 48-hours during the period. All eligible applicants for assistance were invited to attend a briefing on May 14 at the Barton County Courthouse.In other Emergency Management news, the Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee, sponsored by Barton County Emergency Management, held its quarterly meeting April 22.