LINCOLN, Neb.—President Bush designated six counties in western Nebraska as disaster areas Wednesday because of damage caused by severe storms and flooding in June.
The designation will allow state and local governments in the area to recover some of the costs of emergency aid delivered after the storms. Some nonprofit groups may also be eligible for some reimbursement.
Some federal money is also available to help pay for projects designed to reduce the risks of future flooding or other hazards.
This is the third time this summer flooding in Nebraska has prompted a presidential disaster declaration.
“It’s been a very busy summer,” said Cindy Newsham, who manages the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency’s recovery division.
The latest disaster declaration covers Arthur, Chase, Dundy, Keith, McPherson, and Perkins counties.
The storm damage covered during this declaration happened between June 11 and June 16. Newsham said a lot of roads in the area, especially gravel county roads, and some culverts were washed out during the storms. Also, some bridges were damaged.
Newsham said few people who live in the area reported flood damage, so aid will not be available to individuals.
Parts of Chase County received nearly 9 inches of rain over one 24-hour period during that stretch.
At one point, Chase County Sheriff Tim Sutherland said he and a deputy were stranded by the flooding after more than 2 feet of water covered U.S. Highway 6 and forced the road’s closure.
Sutherland and the deputy had to drive to Colorado and circle around through Benkelman to get back to the Chase County seat of Imperial.
The governor requested the latest declaration on Aug. 3.
On July 25, a disaster declaration was granted for 15 counties: Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Frontier, Greeley, Hayes, Hitchcock, Howard, Kearney, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, Valley and Wheeler.
A June 6 declaration included 18 counties: Blaine, Brown, Cass, Custer, Gage, Garfield, Jefferson, Johnson, Keya Paha, Knox, Loup, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, and Wheeler.
A total of 36 different counties have qualified as disaster areas as a result of flooding.
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