Ricketts requests disaster declaration for Nebraska, almost all residents impacted

Gov. Pete Ricketts has asked President Trump for a disaster declaration for the state of Nebraska.

Flooding damage numbers were released as a part of FEMA’s request report. The state has suffered $439 million in damages to public infrastructure and $85 million to private homes and businesses.

As of Wednesday morning, 85 cities, 74 counties, and four tribal areas in Nebraska had emergency declarations. 

NEMA estimates 1,735,635 Nebraskans – 95 percent of all residents – have been affected by the storms. 

“FEMA is ready to respond to this type of disaster, we’ve responded to multiple other big disasters, we can handle this one and we will be there to help,” said FEMA regional director Paul Taylor. 

Taylor says although individuals could be approved some assistance, going through insurance is better option.

“FEMA will never make you completely whole through the individual assistance program, so that’s why insurance is so important, the support of our voluntarily community, assets are so important, the support of the private sector because with all of those people working in the community can really do a much better job of getting people back on their feet,” said Taylor.

Other assistance could go to permanent work such as rebuilding roads, bridges, and levees. It could also go towards federal assistance to help out with debris.

At this time, Taylor says individuals who are going back to their homes should be documenting all of the damages.

“For example, if you are a home owner you need to find your insurance policy, you need to find proof of ownership to the home, renters policy and all of those documents that are going to allow you to submit a claim potentially in the future for assistance,” said Taylor.

Taylor wants to remind people not to stop donation efforts because the federal government will not cover it all.

The Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association is estimating that feedlot and cow/calf operations have a $400 million loss; increase transportation costs due to infrastructure loss is $1 million/day.

Feedlots have lost approximately $36 million in feed supplies and crop loss is estimated to be in the range of $440 million.

FEMA request report also says 65 of 93 counties have declared emergencies.