TOPEKA -- Governor Mark Parkinson signed a state Disaster Emergency proclamation Friday, in response to the severe winter storms and dangerously cold temperatures this weekend.

The declaration calls for a 5-day suspension of certain provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act dealing with hours of service. The changes will allow motor carriers, including propane suppliers, to work longer hours, making sure all customers in Kansas have enough propane for heating.

"With temperatures in the single digits during the day and dropping to well below zero at night, Kansans are using more heating fuel that normal," Parkinson says.

Counties included in today's declaration are: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Brown, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Greenwood, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, Miami, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, SHAWNEE, Osage, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, Woodson and Wyandotte.