Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has issued a disaster declaration for 23 counties following the powerful storms on August 9 that left behind widespread destruction and at least $24 million in estimated damage.
The storm, which struck in the early morning hours, produced winds up to 91 miles per hour, toppling trees, damaging the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, and tragically killing one person at Two Rivers State Park near Omaha. At the peak of the outages, nearly 35,000 Lincoln residents were without power, and some households remained in the dark for more than three days.
Lincoln Electric System officials reported that power restoration alone cost more than $2 million, according to an initial update presented to the utility’s administrative board.
The governor’s declaration allows state funds to be used to assist affected communities across the disaster area. Counties included under the order are Burt, Butler, Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Harlan, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Washington, Webster, and York.
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