Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed seven impaired drivers from the road during a drunk driving enforcement campaign on St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17.

“We have many troopers working diligently to perform rescues, manage closed roads, and respond to numerous situations in areas affected by this devastating flood,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “But in other parts of the state, troopers are patrolling the roads to keep Nebraskans safe as they travel.”

Troopers in areas not affected by the flooding were able to participate in the national St. Patrick’s Day drunk driving enforcement campaign. On Sunday, troopers arrested seven motorists for driving under the influence.

In addition to the arrests for drunk driving, troopers also issued citations for speeding (60), driving under suspension (7), open container (3), minor in possession (4), no proof of insurance (4), no seat belt (4), and improper child restraint (3).

Troopers around Nebraska also performed 59 motorist assists on Sunday for drivers in need of help. This enforcement was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $9,655 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded $23,254 in grants for Excellence in Youth service. Of the grants awarded to twenty-five Nebraska libraries, several addressed the need for materials like LEGO^® and other activities to encourage creativity in young people. The Nebraska Library Commission congratulates the public libraries listed below as they develop new and innovative programs to ensure excellence in library service for Nebraska young people.

The recipients are:

• Atkinson Public Library, Preschool learning materials, books, and activities
• Blue Hill Public Library, LEGO^®  kits
• Butler Memorial Library, Cambridge, Breakout EDU Platform Kits for Kid Book Club
• Central City Public Library, Bring Edgerton Exploit Center to the library for a community day
• Columbus Public Library, Promote literacy and musical interests
• Wilson Public Library, Cozad, Cozad Biz Kidz Camp
• Creighton Public Library, LEGO^® Club
• Fairbury Public Library, 3-D Printer and other makerspace equipment
• Franklin Public Library, LEGO^® Club
• Fullerton Public Library, Programming to promote literacy and reading
• Genoa Public Library, Toddler Concept Bags
• Gering Public Library, Toddler Story & Playtime
• Grand Island Public Library, SAC Museum Space Program Day, LEGO^® Guy Program Day, and SAM Labs Classroom Kit
• Imperial Public Library, K through 4 after school programs
• Kimball Public Library, Creative program expansion
• Louisville Public Library, Teen programming
• Mead Public Library, 1,000 Books before Kindergarten
• Jensen Memorial Library, Minden, Preschool programming
• Morton-James Public Library, Nebraska City, Materials encouraging learning and creativity
• Plainview Public Library, LEGO^®s
• Plattsmouth Public Library, Busy Bags
• Shelby Community Library, Children activities
• Lied Lincoln Township, Wausa, Youth games
• Maltman Memorial Public Library, Wood River, LEGO^® Club
• Yutan Public Library, American Girl Kit’s Klub

Youth Grants for Excellence are made available by the Nebraska Library Commission with funding from the State of Nebraska. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is continuing its efforts to inspect and reopen roadways after the historic flooding this spring across the state.

Following inspection and clean-up (and repair) by NDOT personnel, Highway N-11 is now open from Wood River to Cairo.

Please remember some local and county roads may still remain impassible. Travel with caution.

Plan your travel by checking 511 prior to leaving for your destination. 511 provides the most up to date
travel conditions and closures available. The system

Nebraska’s Strong Communities

By Governor Pete Ricketts

March 19, 2019

This past week will forever be remembered for the historic, devastating flooding our state experienced.  In the scope of reach, we believe it is the most widespread natural disaster in our state’s history.  As Nebraskans, we will get through this together as we always have.

Over the last several days, I have been traveling the state to get briefed on the impacts of the flooding.  As I’ve traveled, the stories Nebraskans have shared about the response have been incredible.  Even in the face of these incredibly tough odds, Nebraskans everywhere have stepped up and their work has been heroic.  In Boyd County, the Fire Chief and Sheriff’s Deputy stayed on the job to help other people even after their own homes got flooded out.  In Fremont, hundreds of people answered calls for volunteers to help fill sandbags and build barriers to protect the city against rising water.  In Niobrara, the community came together for a meeting at their fire hall two days after glacial chunks of ice destroyed major infrastructure and buildings in the town.

These stories are repeated over and over across our state.  It’s a reminder that we truly live in the greatest state in the nation – a place where people genuinely care for their neighbors.  Thank you to the local Emergency Managers (EM), first responders, law enforcement, and countless volunteers who have stepped up.  These unsung heroes are bringing us through one of the toughest chapters in our state’s history.

Recovery will be a long road, but I know that together we will get through this.  We will all do our part.  Here’s how you can help

Safety: We continue to ask everyone not to travel in areas where roads are closed.  Do not cross flooded roads.  Over the last week, wise decisions have been keeping people safe even under extreme conditions.  While flood waters are receding, please remain vigilant.  It will be quite sometime before the infrastructure is back in place to prevent recurring flooding.  If flood waters have subsided in your community, make sure that you return only when local officials have given the all clear.

Relief: The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nebraska National Guard have been working around the clock with numerous partners to deliver relief to communities across the state.  Members of the National Guard have been deployed to communities around the state to support relief efforts.  Ongoing requests for relief should be communicated through local EMs.  You can find your EM at www.nema.nebraska.gov.

Assistance: There are lots of resources and more are coming online every day.  Here are a few hotlines that can help as we recover:

• Nebraskans needing property cleanup can contact the Crisis Clean Up Hotline: 833-556-2476.
• Farmers in need of hay, feedstuffs, fencing materials, volunteer help, equipment, etc. should call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 1-800-831-0550.
• Businesses can call the U.S. Chamber’s Disaster Help Desk for Business at 1-888-692-4943.
• NEMA has set up a hotline for general questions from the public.  The number is 402-817-1551.
• For all other needs for assistance call 211.
• If you have an emergency, you should dial 911.

These are just a few resources.  There are more available at www.nema.nebraska.gov as well ashttp://www.nda.nebraska.gov/resources/.

Infrastructure: The Nebraska Department of Transportation (DOT) is inspecting the integrity of state infrastructure as quickly as possible.  It will take quite a while to inspect all of the state and local infrastructure impacted by flooding.  In just the first few days of the severe weather and flooding, our DOT team had put in over 40,000 hours of work.  We appreciate all they do.  To check the conditions and status of state roads, please visit www.511.nebraska.gov.

Support: Nebraskans have a big heart and they are stepping up in incredible ways to help their neighbors.  We will need a lot of help to put our communities back together as we rebuild.  I encourage you to contact the Salvation Army’s volunteer hotline at 402-898-6050 to register as a volunteer.  If you live in one of the impacted areas, please support the work your local EM is already doing.  If you would like to donate money or give blood, please do so through the American Red Cross.  You can find more information at https://redcross.org/local/nebraska.html.

In the coming weeks, I know Nebraskans will continue to pull together as we rebuild and keep our state strong and growing.  Please watch www.Governor.Nebraska.gov for more updates on our work.  If you have any thoughts you would like to share on this topic or any other, I hope that you will reach out to me at [email protected] or call 402-471-2244.

In a Facebook post, the Nebra ska State Patrol urged motorists to avoid driving on flooded roads due to significant damage.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is continuing its efforts to inspect and reopen roadways after the historic flooding this spring across the state.
Highway 36 into Fremont is open to one lane. Traffic will navigate with pilot car.

Please remember some local and county roads may still remain impassible. Travel with caution.

Plan your travel by checking 511 prior to leaving for your destination. 511 provides the most up to date travel conditions and closures available. The system is available at all times online at 511.nebraska.gov,

Nebraska 511’s smartphone app or by dialing 511.

The following highways are also now open:

Highway N-64, West Maple, is open at 204th
Highway US-77 is open south to Lincoln
Highway US-75 is open

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence is headed to the Midwest to view flood damage as farmers raise concerns that busted levees won’t be fixed before the traditional spring flood season.

Pence is scheduled to visit Omaha, Nebraska, late Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds of homes are damaged, and tens of thousands of acres are inundated with water.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says rivers breached at least a dozen levees in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Flooding is expected through the week as high water levels flow down the Missouri River.

Corps official Jud Kneuvean says levees usually take six months to repair. That means most likely won’t be fixed by mid-May, the start of the most flood-prone part of the year.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau says farm and ranch losses could reach $1 billion in Nebraska alone.

Drone footage of flood aftermath in Nebraska

Drone footage of the route to Silver Creek, Neb.

Courtesy Kelly Bandt / Eagle Communications