FEMA opening two disaster recovery centers in Nebraska’s Douglas, Washington Counties

LINCOLN — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will open two disaster recovery centers Friday, in Elkhorn and Blair, to assist Nebraskans following the Arbor Day tornadoes.

The two centers in Douglas and Washington Counties will offer one-on-one assistance through FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration recovery specialists, who will provide information on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of related applications.

Gov. Jim Pillen requested federal financial support and a major disaster declaration nearly one week after the April 26 storms, which President Joe Biden granted.

The locations will be:

• Douglas County — Omaha Police Department Community Room C116; 20924 Cumberland Drive Elkhorn, Nebraska, 68022.
• Washington County — First Lutheran Church, 2146 Wright St., Blair, Nebraska, 68008.

The centers will be open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice, with the exception of the Blair center, which will instead open at 1 p.m. this Friday before continuing the regular schedule.

Centers will be physically accessible to people with disabilities and others with access or functional needs, equipped with assistance and adaptive technology. This includes amplified, caption or video phones and wheelchair ramps.

How to apply for assistance

FEMA said affected Nebraskans should apply online or by phone prior to visiting a center. Staff will be on hand to help with the application in person if needed.

To apply:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Use the FEMA app.

Anyone who uses a relay service — such as video relay service or captioned telephone service — can give FEMA the number for that service. A video on how to apply is available here.

Financial assistance

FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance. 

Money provided does not need to be repaid and can go toward hotel lodging; relocation, moving or storage expenses; home repair (new or pre-existing damage exacerbated by the storms); personal property repairs and replacements; or child care.

Money could also be used for lifesaving and life-sustaining items — water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.