K.S.A. 24-496

When, in the opinion of the board of directors of any drainage district to which this act applies, an emergency within said district exists by reason of current injuries to persons and property, or imminent danger thereof, from floods or other injurious action of any water course within said district, the said board of directors may build new dikes and levees, and repair, expand and strengthen old ones, dig ditches, build jetties, or make any other changes, alterations and additions in existing improvements built for the purposes for which said district is organized, and may build any new structure or other improvement deemed necessary by said board to solve the problems created by such emergency; and may pay the expense of all steps taken in pursuance of the foregoing authority from the general fund of said district.