RSS
Melissa Rice
From: Washington County Pilot-Tribune
Senator Ben Nelson spoke to a crowd of approximately 50 people Sunday afternoon, July 10, at Holling Hall on the Dana College campus. Nelson told attendees that he is pushing for federal help for flood ravaged areas in Nebraska.
More than 50 people packed into the commons area of Holling Hall on the Dana College campus Sunday afternoon to visit with Senator Ben Nelson and share their concerns about flooding along the Missouri River.
Nelson told attendees the flood was of such great proportions that no one who has merely seen pictures can appreciate the extentof the flooding. Nelson stressed that "each person's loss...is important to all of us together."
Nelson's aide, Zach Nelson, said teams are currently assessing damage in communities stricken by the flood. Once assessments are made, the information will be passed on and requests for FEMA funds will be made to the president. If federal funds are approved, 75 percent of funds for rebuilding will come from the federal government, with the remainder shared by the state and municipalities.
Help may come more readily for ag producers, who have federal aid available through several programs.
However, the prognosis may not be so good for anyone who did not have flood insurance.
FEMA has set the date of June 1 (2011) as the start date for the flood event. However, Nelson said many people are "questioning" the date which affects their flood insurance coverage. Nelson said that FEMA has that date "under review."
Senator Nelson said he has encouraged the head of FEMA to come visit the area and meet with Mayor Jim Realph and Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, as well as the county commissioners and other groups so that he can get a first-hand understanding of the crisis.
Nelson also said he has concerns about how the Corps of Engineers handled the flooding.
"When the waters have subsided, we need to find out what happend, was someone asleep at the swtich?" Nelson said. The senator said a full assessment needs to be done to determine what was "done right and what wasn't done right to avoid situations like this in the future." The senator said he expects a full-blown Senate investigation into the Corps' handling of the flood later this year.
Nelson fielded several questions from audience members.
One attendee noted that so many had lost homes and needed help getting into other housing. But, she added, there was "no one to help us and we can't collect our flood insurance."
Nelson said that FEMA would have to inspect the area and make "certain assumptions" about losses.
In response, another woman said it would be impossible for flood teams to "assess" her property as she has seen pictures of her home "floating on down the river. There is nothing to assess."
There is concern that the scope of the damage, since it is limited primarily to one portion of the state, may result in the state qualifying for some of the federal aid. If that is the case, there would be limited "individual assistance" available for flood victims.
A former resident of the Cottonwood Marina asked Nelson why, in the case of Hurricane Katrina, victims were set up in trailers and immediately given credit cards to help with expenses and wondered if there wasn't some kind of provision that could be given to the victims of this flood.
After listening to victims concerns, and before heading out for a tour of the area, Senator Nelson stressed that he would continue to act on his constituent's behalf.
"I'm going to do more than just listen," he said. "Words are inadequate for how deeply I feel for this."
###
Search: Issues, Economy, Families, Emergency Management, Environment, Housing, Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Farmers and Ranchers, Infrastructure, Nelson in the News