Resources and information for farmers and flood victims
From: Nebraska Emergency Management Agency News Release
As Nebraskans are beginning to return home to flood ravaged communities, the reality of what comes next hits hard. It can be overwhelming.
The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) website – https://nema.nebraska.gov/ – has an interactive map of declarations, a chart of estimated damage costs, and general information on the floods.
There are many resources available, and the State of Nebraska has compiled information on agencies providing assistance and information.
A 24-hour call center has been established at the Joint Information Center (JIC) at NEMA. The call center is staffed by state employees from a variety of agencies who are available to connect citizens with the resources needed. The call center number is 402-817-1551. This is not a FEMA resource number. A federal declaration has not been made. If a federal declaration is made, a FEMA contact number will be announced.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has set up a hotline for donations of hay and other farm supplies. That hotline number is 800-831-0550.
The Nebraska National Guard is currently executing hay drops in areas where livestock are cut off from feed.
In addition, NDA has a Rural Response Hotline for farmers and producers who are needing emotional support or someone to talk to.
When disasters occur, there are always people who try to profit off of the needs of others. Fraudulent funding schemes are popping up on the Internet.
To find a legitimate agency for monetary and other goods and services donations, contact 211. To reach 211, simply dial 211. If you have difficulty reaching 211, dial 866-813-1731.
Agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry, and a flooding disaster of this magnitude has an impact on everyone.
Farmers and ranchers have immediate and immense needs as caring for their animals and keeping them safe is a top priority. It’s devastating to lose livestock under any circumstance, and this is on such a large scale.
In addition to local offers of assistance from Nebraskans, ag-related donations are coming in from all over the country: Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Georgia, Michigan, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, North Carolina and Colorado. For the first 20-25 calls for ag assistance, Nebraska received more than 110 offers to help.
One of the many challenges Nebraska is facing, in matching donated ag resources to farmers and ranchers in need, is the ability to physically get the resources to the ag producers when roads and railways are flooded and inaccessible.
Field staff with the NDA, working in northeast Nebraska, hand delivered donated hay from the community of West Point to a local cattle producer in need. NDA has staff working in the State Emergency Operations Center coordinating requests for assistance with donations.
