Nebraska Is Underwater: 74 Cities, 65 Counties Under State of Emergency

An aerial view of damaged buildings after a storm triggered historic flooding, in Valley, Nebraska, in this still image from a handout video taken on Mar.16, 2019. Office of Governor Pete Ricketts/Reuters

Much of Nebraska was inundated with flood waters, leading the governor to declare a state of emergency.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts called it “the most widespread destruction we have ever seen in our state’s history,” and said farmers will suffer the most, CBS News reported.

According to USA Today, 74 cities, 65 counties, and four tribal areas were under a state of emergency as of March 19.

A road is covered with floodwater from the Pecatonica River in Freeport, Illinois, on March 18, 2019. Scott Oslon/Getty Images

The state’s farm bureau said that ranch and farm losses could total $1 billion.

Vice President Mike Pence went to the state to survey flood damage, visit a temporary shelter, and speak to first responders.

“We’re going to make sure that federal resources are there for you,” Pence told volunteers, as reported by Yahoo.

South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin also declared states of emergency due to flooding, CBS reported.

“Obviously we’ve got a lot of recovery left ahead of us,” Ricketts told CBS. “It’s going to be a long road for us to rebuild our infrastructure and get people back in their homes.”

Ricketts added that 14 state bridges were damaged and 200 miles of highway were compromised and cannot be used.

“We’re still very focused on keeping people safe right now and as late as yesterday we were still conducting rescues of people,” he said.

He elaborated on the damage done to farmers’ lands.

Flooded Camp Ashland, Army National Guard facility, is seen in this aerial photo taken in Ashland, Nebraska, on March 17, 2019. Herschel Talley/Nebraska National Guard/Reuters

“In our initial assessment, we’ve got $400 million in livestock loses and $440 million in grain losses,” Ricketts told the news outlet. “We’re encouraging our farmers and ranchers to contact their local FSA office, Farm Service Agency, to notify them that they’ve got these loses and to keep track of this, so they can take advantage of things like the livestock indemnity program.”

In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds said that severe flooding across the Midwest might last all spring.

Snowmelt and additional rains could create more flood hazards due to compromised levees along rivers.

Highway 281 is seen damaged after a storm triggered historic flooding in Niobrara, Nebraska, on March 16, 2019. Office of Governor Pete Ricketts/Reuters

“We’re in for the long haul. We’re just getting started,” said Reynolds, USA Today. “It looked like an ocean.”

AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok told USA Today that flooding could last until late spring.

“El Niño is likely to persist through the spring and not weaken like it usually does this time of the year,” he said.

More Details

Ricketts said more than 2,000 homes and 341 businesses have been damaged or destroyed in the flood, according to The Associated Press.

The damage to private homes and businesses has reached $85 million so far.

The governor stressed that the numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

The numbers were included in the governor’s request for expedited assistance from the federal government. The floodwaters have also damaged hundreds of homes in other Midwestern states and been blamed for three deaths.

In northwest Missouri, two more levees were breached March 19 and the 220 residents of the town of Craig were ordered to evacuate. Local officials said water also is lapping at the edge of the tiny town of Fortescue, where residents used excavators to create a makeshift levee, according to AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.