The director of Nebraska's Department of Transportation has had a lot to worry about regarding the effects of the double hit on the state from a blizzard and flooding.Ìý
But Director Kyle Schneweis told the Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Thursday that even with the demands on money, equipment and workers to fix the damage to a minimum of 200 miles of Nebraska roads and 15 bridges known to be in trouble, there are some long-planned projects to which he remains committed.Ìý
At the top of his list is the Lincoln South Beltway project, which has been "a high-wire act for 18 months," he said.
People have been asking for the road, and the department has been trying to get the South Beltway done for 40 years, he said. And it's almost there, with the department set to let bids in December.
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"It would be hard to take if we can't get there in December," Schneweis said. "So that's my goal is to get there. … We've almost been there before, and then you don't maybe get another chance. So it's time."
Department spokeswoman Vicki Kramer said any talk of a delay in the project would be premature. In the next two weeks the department will be assessing flooding damage to determine the federal reimbursement cost, then two to three weeks after that officials will have a better idea of cash flow and the timing of federal emergency funding.Ìý
For the work that needs to be done to damaged roads, contractors are in place, Schneweis said. The department is also in touch with suppliers and they are ramping up.Ìý
He told the committee flooding caused the closure of 2,000 miles of Nebraska highways and the blizzard caused another 1,300 miles to shut down. As of Thursday, 290 miles remained closed, and those will take some time to reopen.Ìý
At least eight bridges will need to be replaced, he reported. The approaches to seven bridges are gone. And the department has been unable to get to two bridges, and is using drones to try to see some inaccessible areas.
Schneweis said Nebraska has had flooded roadways in the past, but the scale of this is different.
"Trying to manage so much at one time is one of the challenges," he said. "But we're doing it."
Transportation is taken for granted until the system is closed, he said, and then you realize how hard it is when mobility is restricted, when you need to get doctors to hospitals, emergency and rescue crews to people, and it's just not safe.Ìý
Usually operation costs for materials and overtime in responding to weather events is around $26 million for the department, he told the committee. But it's been a hard year, and so it was up to $36 million even before last week.Ìý
"We're now making daily inquiries into how much we're spending on overtime," he said.
The department is talking to the Federal Highway Administration about emergency repair work to restore essential travel, which is given in the first 180 days after a disaster occurs and may be reimbursed at 100 percent. It has also asked for $40 million to $50 million in quick release funds, cash rather than reimbursement.Ìý
Major Gen. Daryl Bohac, director of the state Military Department and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, told the committee the agency has sufficient resources in its budget to respond to immediate operational demands through June.
It has asked for $3 million to $5 million for next fiscal year, and would work with the committee to refine that number.Ìý
As the floodwaters recede and the snow melts in the Panhandle, and the state begins to fully assess the damage, the agency has initial estimates of $439 million in infrastructure losses, $440 million in crop loss and $400 million in livestock loss.
During his meeting with the Appropriations Committee, Bohac learned President Donald Trump had approved Nebraska's request for federal disaster aid. The state requested 90 percent support for allowable costs, he said. If granted, that would leave the state to pay 5 percent and local governments to pay 5 percent of those costs.Ìý
Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart asked if there were counties that were so devastated they could not come up with their match, and if there would be other options. Bohac said there are other resources.Ìý
Larry Dix, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, said a number of county budgets are tight, especially in northeast Nebraska.ÌýThree of the counties that will suffer the longest are Nance, Boyd and Knox, he said.Ìý
"We're scratching our heads trying to figure out how do they come up with a match," he said.
Nance County alone has reported $230 million in damage to infrastructure.Ìý
Latest flooding and relief photos, videos
Photos, videos: #NebraskaStrong in flood-ravaged areas
Outrunning the water
North Bend hero
Levee breach
Sweet messages
Nebraska City aerial
This is Nebraska City and the miles-wide Missouri River behind it.
— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol)
Operation Prairie Hay Drop photos
The has been supporting the ongoing response in Eastern Nebraska following massive flooding on the state’s river systems which began a week ago and caused catastrophic damage to the state’s infrastructure and agriculture.
— NE National Guard (@NENationalGuard)
(3/3)
Washed-up chunk of ice
Cleanup in Beatrice
Missouri River at Nebraska 2/I-29
Much-needed rest
📸- Waterloo firefighter getting some much needed rest after spending hours making rescues Sunday. |
— Omaha Scanner (@omaha_scanner)
Horses rescued
Empty shelves
Seeing empty shelves at the store because all of the products were purchased for flood relief and trucks full of supplies in front of DSAC made me so proud of our community!
— Ally Logan (@AllyJ_Logan)
View of the Platte/Missouri
View of the Platte looking west near the confluence with the Missouri River.
— Maj Gen Daryl Bohac (@NETAGBohac)
Edge of Offutt
(at the edge of Offutt Air Force Base)
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse)
North Bend ovation
Great moment: at tonight’s North Bend community meeting the North Bend Fire Department recieves a standing ovation for their tireless work during the flood. 😅
— North Bend Eagle (@northbendeagle)
Pence with rescuers
Americans like Brad Brown & his airboat co-pilot Jake Rohr are the heart of the heartland. Brad & Jake have been helping victims of the flooding & delivering much needed supplies. Grateful for their service & ALL the volunteers & emergency personnel helping Nebraskans in need!
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP)
Lincoln help for Santee Sioux
Buying out the bleach
When you go to the grocery store and your hometown bank is buying out all the bleach in Laurel to take to Osmond for flood cleanup.
— Melissa S Graham (@MelissaSGraham1)
Help from North Platte
— Chandra Laine (@ChandraLaine)
We are a group of volunteers gathering donations in North Platte Ne . We sent one semi to Fremont. We have two more semi trailers almost full.Get our 4th semi on Thursday. To the people, Your battle is our battle. We stand with you. We got you! â¤
Help for farmers
Thanks to generious donations to the Disaster Relief Fund, we were able to deliver supplies to farmers along the Niobrara River. We brought them milk replacement for calves and medicine. Help us do more good by donating to the fund:
— Nebraska Farm Bureau (@NEFarmBureau)
Niobrara ice chunks
Trooper Viterna #480 standing next to ice chunks from the Niobrara River that were left behind after causing all kinds of damage.
— NSP Troop B Nights (@NSPTroopBNights)
Sandbagging at Cooper
A Nebraska National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter picks up sandbags to take to the Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville as part of the response to historic flooding. Video courtesy Nebraska State Patrol.
— NE National Guard (@NENationalGuard)
Pence in Nebraska
Visited the relief shelter at Elkhorn Middle School today to let the Nebraska flood victims know and I are WITH them & to thank the incredible military personnel & volunteers helping those impacted. THANK YOU!
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP)
I-680 Mormon bridge
Wow. The 680 Mormon bridge east side pic this afternoon. This much water even with the river already having crested.
— Paul West (@PaulWestCoach)
Sasse surveying damage
Where is the river?
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse)
And where is it not? uggh...
Latest from NEMA
Declared jurisdictions as of 3:00 p.m. today.
— NEMA (@NEMAtweets)
Repairing the roads
Beer fridge was stocked!
For those of you that don't know, our state of is going through record flooding. Sometimes though, the world sends you a break. These guys went to their and found a fully-stocked .
— Fat Boy Wild Game (@gameseasonings)
Bellevue aftermath
Flying in supplies
The Nebraska flooding is so heartbreaking but the whole state has stepped up to help. I can’t be more proud of my brother for flying his plane to Fremont with baby supplies to help. Proud to be from Nebraska
— Michelle Galles (@WakefieldFCCLA)
Offutt before and after
Historic flooding in has over 74 cities under emergency declarations. Shown here are before and after images of Offutt Air Force Base along the River.
— DigitalGlobe (@DigitalGlobe)
Fremont aerials
I joined the Fremont National Guard in Nebraska today to get an aerial view of flooding impact as we traveled to thank volunteers in Fremont, NE, address a community meeting in Niobrara, and receive a briefing in Lynch. | |
— Scott (@FirstMinScott)
U.S. 81 south of Columbus
ðŸ“Hwy 81 south of Columbus open to passenger vehicles only. Be careful of 🚧construction 🚧equipment along highway
— NSP_TrooperGena (@NSP_TrooperGena)
Genoa, Fullerton
Headworks between Genoa and Fullerton. Back gravel road is gone. (Loup Power Park along the canal)
— NSP_TrooperGena (@NSP_TrooperGena)