Pillen requests federal aid for severe flooding in southeast Nebraska after early October storms

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has requested a federal disaster declaration for severe flooding in eight counties in southeast Nebraska that occurred between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6.

Pillen had declared a state of emergency after the flooding on Oct. 1. At the time, the order did not specify the counties affected. His office announced the federal request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday and requested aid for Douglas, Fillmore, Lancaster, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward and Thayer counties.

A news release said the affected counties sustained damage to water control facilities, roadways, bridges, electrical infrastructure, schools, other public buildings and equipment.

Damage assessments have exceeded $23 million, Pillen’s office said. The estimate could rise.

“I have asked President Trump, through a request submitted to FEMA, to consider the extent of damage resulting from this extraordinary flooding event and to grant a request for public assistance, which will help cover the costs that communities, counties and our Natural Resource Districts will incur through repairs and recovery,” Pillen said in a statement.

Pillen’s office said Lancaster, Thayer and Saunders counties had “extensive” debris to remove, and his office said rainfall was “particularly significant” in Douglas and Lancaster, the state’s most populous counties.

The governor has separately requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration for Douglas County. Pillen’s office said at least 25 homes and/or businesses were damaged, exceeding uninsured losses of at least 40%. 

As of 2:34 p.m. Tuesday, Pillen’s office confirmed the SBA granted the request. Affected property owners will have access to low-interest loans to assist with recovery.

When Trump visited Grand Island on Oct. 5, he said Pillen “calls me all the time, always looking for money for this state. I hate it, and I always give it to Jim Pillen.” The president said now-U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, Pillen’s predecessor, also called frequently. 

Trump told the Grand Island crowd of a call with Ricketts, who had asked for $25 million after a flood. The president said he remarked, “Pete, that’s a lot of money,” but Trump explained to the crowd: “But you know, I won it three times. I say, ‘To hell with it. Give him the money.’”

Democratic senators pressed FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton during his confirmation hearing this summer on a perceived partisan tilt in which states get federal aid and how quickly.

Hamilton told senators that his focus would be to ensure FEMA “is objective, is fair and reasonable, follows the law, and is consistent in the approach to how we adjudicate and process claims and requests for disasters.” Hamilton was confirmed to the post in early August.