President Approves Nebraska Disaster Declaration
May 3, 2024
WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration for the state of Nebraska. The announcement comes as U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Representatives Mike Flood (NE-01), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Adrian Smith (NE-03) sent a letter to President Biden today voicing their support of Governor Jim Pillen’s (R-NE) request for a major disaster declaration for the state of Nebraska.
The Governor’s request came as a result of severe storms that struck the state between April 25-27, 2024.
In total, 42 tornado warnings were issued statewide. In Douglas and Washington Counties, the current estimate for public assistance damage is approximately $8.1 million. Additional counties reported approximately $3.4 million in estimated damage, for a total of $11.5 million in statewide estimated damage.
Approval of the disaster declaration makes federal assistance available to areas affected by the storm.
A copy of the delegation’s letter to President Biden is below and a signed copy is available here.
May 3, 2024
President Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write in support of Governor Jim Pillen’s request for a major disaster declaration, which followed the storms occurring between April 25-27, 2024, for the Nebraska counties of Douglas and Washington. We also support Governor Pillen’s request for Hazard Mitigation statewide.
Severe storms caused extensive damage across the state due to the combination of tornadoes, thunderstorms, high winds, hail, and heavy rain. In total, 42 tornado warnings were issued statewide. In Douglas and Washington counties, initial estimates indicate 159 homes destroyed with hundreds more experiencing damage. The current estimate for public assistance damage in Douglas and Washington counties is approximately $8.1 million, with additional counties across the state reporting approximately $3.4 million in estimated damage. Taken together, the preliminary total estimate is $11.5 million.
Recovery from these tornadoes and severe storms will require significant time and resources and we expect that more thorough damage assessments will show additional needs above those outlined above. That said, the people of Nebraska have once again shown America their resilience. This is an opportunity for the federal government to join with the state in these restoration efforts.
We stand ready and willing to assist in any way possible to ensure prompt evaluation of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices with any questions.