SUNDAY UPDATES: Nebraska governor declares emergency for 3 counties hit by tornadoes

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Below is a list of updates we have received from area officials on Sunday.

EMERGENCY DECLARED: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has issued an emergency declaration for Douglas, Washington, and Lancaster counties in response to Friday’s tornadoes. The declaration opens up the Governor’s Emergency Fund for use. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a state of emergency for Pottawattamie County on Friday.

Tonight, I issued an emergency declaration for Douglas, Lancaster and Washington Counties -- all impacted by the severe...
Posted by Governor Jim Pillen on Sunday, April 28, 2024

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY UPDATE: Officials reported Sunday that about 300 homes and businesses sustained some sort of damage. Four injuries were reported; three victims were treated and released. The fourth died at an Omaha hospital Saturday night.

MINDEN, IOWA, UPDATE: A man died from his injuries after being trapped in his basement during Friday’s storm. His family said he had been transported to an Omaha hospital once he was freed from the rubble, but died Saturday night.

The most concentrated damage, officials say, occurred in Minden. Four-dozen homes are considered unlivable. Access to the city remains restricted to only residents. Outside volunteer assistance may be allowed entry in the next few days. The City of Minden is still under a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew until further notice.

Health services are available at the Minden Medical Clinic. Mid-American Energy says power has been restored to the city’s west side, and are working to get the lights back on in the rest of town.

Minden’s water tower is being fed via a regional water system; crews are working to remove debris from the treatment plant’s controls and assess damage.

For those wishing to help, the Community Foundation for Western Iowa has set up a relief fund for those impacted.

SHELTERS TO CLOSE: As cleanup from Friday’s tornadoes continues across the Omaha metro, the American Red Cross says the two shelters it opened for tornado victims in Elkhorn and Blair will close Sunday.

Officials tell 6 News both shelters are closing because affected residents have made other lodging arrangements.

TORNADO RECOVERY

How to help — and find help

Here are ways you can assist those in Nebraska and Iowa who are recovering from tornadoes that hit on Friday, April 26.

"Thank you everybody" is seend spray painted on a damaged home Monday in Elkhorn. The area was...

RED CROSS UPDATE: Residents in need of assistance are asked to call 1 (800) RED-CROSS. Volunteers are still distributing emergency supplies to affected areas. Teams are also beginning to assess damage in residential areas in order to best allocate what the community needs.

The Red Cross advises it is unable to take donations of food or supplies at this time. Click here for ways to help and find assistance if you need it.

BLAIR RELIEF EFFORTS: The Salvation Army says it has expanded its disaster relief operations to Blair Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the day, 100 meals were brought to workers, volunteers and first responders in Minden, Iowa. A drive-thru Disaster Relief Center remains open until 3 p.m. today in the Brite Ideas Decorating parking lot at 156th and Blondo. Bottled water, nonperishable foods, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items are available free of charge. Those wishing to receive items must provide identification.

The Blair team is serving lunches to workers and volunteers at First Lutheran Church this afternoon. They will later serve dinner to hundreds more beginning at 4:30 p.m.

GET A FREE MEAL: Operation BBQ Relief will be set up for distribution of meals on Monday at the Blair Walmart, as well as the Walmart at 168th and West Maple. Lunch will be served at Noon; dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: Check for updates from the City of Omaha

OPPD UPDATE: As for power outages, as of 10:30 a.m., OPPD reports around 1,800 customers remain without electricity. The concentration remains in the Bennington, Elkhorn, and Ramblewood areas in Douglas County. In Iowa, MidAmerican Energy reports fewer than 500 outages in the Council Bluffs area.

By 6 p.m., that number had decreased by only 100 because of the extensive damage crews were dealing with in their restoration efforts.

“The remaining outages are time-consuming due to the debris and extensive damage caused by the tornadoes that ripped through the Elkhorn, Bennington and Blair areas,” the OPPD update states.

By 8:15 p.m., there were only about 500 customers still without power, putting restoration efforts at 95%.

DEBRIS DISPOSAL: For those needing to dispose of tree and limb debris, the City of Omaha has opened a drop-off site at Greenbrier Park at 209th and Park Drive in the north parking lot. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice.

Washington County residents may drop off tree and limb debris only at three locations: the intersection of County Roads 38 and 35 near the Blair Airport, 3rd and Grant in Blair, and the Fort Calhoun tree dump at County Roads 47 and 34. All three sites will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No roofing material, appliances or metal objects are being accepted.

HEALTH REMINDERS: The Douglas County Health Department is recommending those assisting with debris cleanup have had a tetanus vaccine in the last 10 years. A clinic has been set up for those wanting to receive a vaccination.