http://journalstar.com/Lincoln, Nebraska Journal Star
Posted: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 3:00 pm
The information will allow NEMA, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard, to begin individual damage assessments on Thursday.
Anyone in Nebraska affected by current flooding or recent storms is asked to call the Flood Hotline toll free by noon Wednesday at (855) 211-2453 or (855) 211-2454 to give a preliminary report on affected property damage. The line is available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reports also can be submitted online at:
http://www.nema.ne.gov/newsroom/home-damage-contact.html.
Individuals and families who have evacuated their primary or secondary residences, those who have sustained damages to a business, and anyone who's job has been impacted by flooding is encouraged to contact NEMA and share that information.
Do not return to property to assess damage. When calling the hotline, provide your best estimate; you needn't, and shouldn't, try to return to flooded property to assess damage.
The information will be used to determine whether the state meets federal thresholds for individual assistance.
Extended camp stays offered
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering extended camp stays of up to 90 days for displaced flood victims in selected state park campgrounds, based on availability of campsites.
Overnight camping fees and park permits will be required. The fees range depending on park, campsite and facilities available. The park permit is $20 for an annual, $10 for a duplicate and $4 for a daily.
For more information on extended stays, contact the Game and Parks Commission at (402) 471-5586 during business hours.
The Red Cross will provide a written referral to verify that the person or family was displaced by the flooding. To do this the person must visit a Red Cross site during business hours. You need to take a photo ID and a piece of mail that confirms you are residing at the address impacted by the flooding.
Kansas 7 north of Sparks closed
ST. JOSEPH -- Rising waters along the Missouri River have prompted Kansas officials to close a portion of a state highway in northeast Kansas.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management said Tuesday that Kansas 7 north of Sparks in Doniphan County to the Nebraska border is closed.
On Monday, the Missouri Department of Transportation closed a bridge over the Missouri River leading to Atchison, Kan. A small segment of highway near Winthrop, Mo., was closed around 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Road blocks have been set up to notify drivers several miles away that they can't get across the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge leading into Atchison.
A significant breach of an agricultural levee north of U.S. 59 Monday afternoon caused water to rush into farmland and onto the highway.
Updated road closures
The Nebraska Department of Roads recommends using highways 77 and 81 to and from Kansas.
NDOR discourages use of Highway 75 because of major construction and lane restrictions. A minor accident on Highway 75 south of Nebraska City last week caused a traffic tie-up involving more than 100 vehicles.
Information regarding road closures can be found at www.roads.ne.gov/flood/.
For travelers eastbound on I-80 from points west of York, if you are intending to travel north on I-29 once you reach Council Bluffs, Iowa, the Department of Roads said it strongly suggests you take U.S. 81 north at York to I-90 in South Dakota. That will allow you to avoid all of the detour traffic in Iowa.
Nebraska 2 is closed from Nebraska City as it runs east into Iowa due to water completely covering Highway 2 on the Iowa side.
Highway 12 is closed east of Verdel to the Niobrara State Park Recreation Road. The state park is open.
Highway 12 is also closed one mile east of Niobrara to the Santee Spur (S-54D).
Highway 14/37 is closed from the junction with Highway 12 to the Nebraska-South Dakota border (Standing Bear Bridge). Highway 14 is open going south from the junction of Highway 12.
The U.S. 30 crossing from Blair to Iowa will temporarily close Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The closure will be for approximately 48 hours, depending on equipment, weather, and other factors. The public will be notified when the road is reopened.
The Decatur Missouri River crossing to Iowa Highway175 is closed due to erosion of the bridge embankment on the Iowa side. Officials will evaluate the erosion and determine if mitigation work can be done to enable the bridge to reopen.
Highway 136 is closed from Brownville as it runs east into Missouri. This closure is due to water topping a levee on the Missouri side.
Highway 159 is closed from Rulo as it runs east into Missouri. Closure is due to a levee break on the Missouri side of Big Lake resulting in water over the road on the Missouri side.
I-680 into Iowa is closed north of Omaha due to I-680 in Iowa being covered by floodwaters.
