President Declares Major Disaster for Nebraska
Release Date: June 20, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-120
» More Information on Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Nebraska to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding during the period of May 22, 2008.
FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Dawson, Douglas, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kearney, Platte, Richardson, Sarpy, and Saunders.
Paulison said that FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the counties of Adams, Blaine, Boone, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Chase, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dawson, Douglas, Fillmore, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Garfield, Gosper, Hall, Hamilton, Hayes, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Keya Paha, Lancaster, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Merrick, McPherson, Nance, Otoe, Phelps, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Saunders, Sarpy, Seward, Sherman, Stanton, Thayer, Thomas, Thurston, Webster, and York.
Funding is available on a cost sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards. All counties in the State of Nebraska are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Paulison named Willie G. Nunn as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Nunn said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated county can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Saturday, 21-Jun-2008 19:22:16