A collection of flood-related resources and links to information follows.
Flood Hotline
A Nebraska Emergency Management Agency public information phone line, (855) 211-2453 or (855) 211-2454, will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including weekends, until further notice.
Weather
Road Information
Motorists are reminded to find an alternate route and not attempt to drive over any road that is covered with flood waters. Do not remove road closure barricades. Barricades are in place for your safety.
Call 511 or visit the “Know before you go” website at www.511nebraska.org for up-to-the minute road condition information.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Joint Information Center – 402-996-3877 www.nwo.usace.army.mil
Animal Health
Flood waters displace wild animals as well as humans. Annette Bredthauer, DHHS public health veterinarian, warns people to be watchful for wild animals. “Wildlife may be acting abnormally due to the stress of displacement. As animals interact and compete for the same resources, diseases such as rabies have an increased chance of transmission.” The department always recommends avoiding direct contact with wild animals and under these circumstances they may be in unexpected places and act more aggressively.
Flood waters may also displace reptiles such as snakes and turtles. Information on reptiles indigenous to Nebraska can be found at http://snr.unl.edu/herpneb/
Shelters
Red Cross:
Red Cross chapters throughout the state are working closely with local emergency managers to determine needs and timeframes. Many have shelter sites on standby. As shelters open, the local and state Emergency Operation Centers will be notified as well as local media when possible. Check www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RedCross to find the chapter serving your area.
Call 211 (human services helpline) to find out what resources are available; or visit the United Way of Midlands 211 website at http://www.ne211.org an additional number is (402) 444-6666.
Water Testing
Residents outside the Lincoln area can contact the Central District Health Department in Grand Island to test well water for Coliform bacteria in the majority of public and private wells statewide. Call (308) 385-5175 ext 160 for more information.
Homeowners can also order kits from the State Laboratory by calling (402) 471-3935 and request a Colilert test kit ($10) which can test for Coliform and E.coli. Homeowners need to collect the sample and return it to the lab within 30 hours of sample collection. Remember, if your drinking water looks, tastes, or smells odd…test it. Even if water has tested okay, it should be retested later to insure bacteria hasn’t permeated the well.
Flood Clean-Up Scams
Homeowners and businesses that have experienced flooding are asked to remain vigilant when it comes to hiring services or purchasing goods. For tips on avoiding home repair scams, please visit the Nebraska Better Business Bureau’s website at www.nebraska.bbb.org or the Attorney General’s website at www.ago.ne.gov. If you feel you have been a victim of a clean-up or home improvement scam, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800) 727-6432.
Insurance
The Nebraska Department of Insurance has flood insurance claim guides available on its website at www.doi.ne.gov. Insurance-related questions can be directed to the Department’s Consumer Affairs Division Monday-through-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling (877) 564-7323.
USDA Flood Recovery Programs
There are a number of actions under emergency programs for farmers, ranchers and landowners to consider. Find more information on agricultural related flood losses online at the Nebraska Agricultural Department website at www.agr.ne.gov
Fire Safety
The State Fire Marshal reminds citizens that if your power is out, and you need to use a generator to make sure your generator has been tested /approved and is in proper working order. Try not to overload circuits, and continue to be cautious when there’s a threat of lightning.
Additional Resources
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency website www.nema.nebraska.gov
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ website has a comprehensive listing of flood resources at www.dhhs.ne.gov/SevereStorms.
NEMA on Face book: http://www.facebook.com/nema.page
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.