Gov. Heineman Announces Nebraska Receives
Disaster Declaration

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman received word today from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials that President George W. Bush approved a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for parts of Nebraska impacted by recent flooding.

“I want to thank the President and members of the federal disaster response team for moving so quickly to approve this request for a disaster declaration,” Gov. Heineman said. “While clean-up is moving forward in several areas of our state, some areas are still not sure what the impact of last week’s storms will be. This declaration ensures that assistance will be available to help with the costs resulting from damage to our public infrastructure.”

The declaration includes counties that experienced storm damage from May 4 to 19, including: Blaine, Brown, Cass, Custer, Gage, Garfield, Jefferson, Johnson, Keya Paha, Knox, Loup, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, and Wheeler Counties.

The disaster declaration allows federal emergency funding to be used in providing assistance to state and local government agencies.

FEMA indicated that other Nebraska counties may be added to the disaster declaration as additional damage assessments are compiled from areas impacted by late May storms. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency expects to submit additional information next week.