Federal Disaster Funds Ordered For Nebraska Winter Storm Recovery
Release Date: January 26, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-016
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster funds have been made available for Nebraska to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area hit by a severe winter storm last November.
Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison said President Bush authorized the aid under a major disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance. The declaration covers damage to public property from the storm that occurred November 27-28, 2005.
After the President's action, Paulison designated the following 29 counties eligible for federal funding to pay the state and affected local governments and certain private non-profit organizations 75 percent of the approved costs for emergency work and the restoration of damaged facilities: Antelope, Boone, Boyd, Custer, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garfield, Gosper, Greeley, Hayes, Holt, Kearney, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, McPherson, Nance, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Rock, Valley, Wayne and Wheeler.
In addition, Paulison said federal funds will be available to the state on a cost-shared basis for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. He indicated that additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Thomas J. Costello of FEMA was named by Paulison to coordinate the federal relief effort. Costello said that procedures for requesting assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings at locations to be announced shortly in the affected area.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 27-Jan-2006 13:13:40