Gov. Heineman Welcomes Expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration
Gov. Heineman Welcomes Expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration
Gov. Dave Heineman tonight received word from President George W. Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the President has approved Gov. Heineman's request for an expedited disaster declaration for parts of Nebraska damaged by recent severe winter storms.
"I want to personally thank President Bush and his disaster response team at FEMA for moving so quickly to approve our request for a federal disaster declaration," the Governor said. "Much of central Nebraska remains without power or powered by alternative means, and this assistance to the public entities trying to accelerate the recovery efforts in our communities is welcome and warranted under these difficult circumstances."
The Governor's request included damage from winter storms beginning Dec. 19 and ending Jan. 2. The President approved federal emergency funding for emergency protective action and debris removal in all 57 counties included in the Governor's request. Those counties are Adams, Antelope, Blaine, Boone, Brown, Buffalo, Cedar, Chase, Cheyenne, Clay, Custer, Dawson, Dixon, Dundy, Fillmore, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Howard, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nuckolls, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Rock, Seward, Sherman, Stanton, Valley, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler and York.
The federal emergency funding provides assistance to state and local government agencies, as well as qualified private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risks to life and property from natural hazards following the storms.
Preliminary damage estimates from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and public power utilities across Nebraska indicated at least $58 million in damages to public infrastructure. Those numbers are increasing as more utilities and governmental agencies compile detailed damage assessments.
Thousands of Nebraskans remain without power.
http://www.gov.state.ne.us/news/2007_01/07_disaster_declaration.html