Trump approves Nebraska disaster declaration

President Trump approved a disaster declaration Thursday to address severe flooding in Nebraska.

The declaration will free up federal funding to assist local efforts to recover from the powerful winter storm that hit the Midwest last week and triggered massive floods.

Nebraska’s congressional delegation had sent a letter to Trump Tuesday urging him sign a presidential disaster declaration.

{mosads}“We write in strong support of Governor Pete Ricketts’s request for an expedited presidential disaster declaration for what the governor has called ‘the most widespread disaster we’ve had in our state’s history,’” Sens. Deb Fischer (R) and Ben Sasse (R), and Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R), Don Bacon (R) and Adrian Smith (R) wrote.

“We are grateful for the responsiveness and assistance FEMA has already provided to Nebraskans in need and look forward to continued partnership on behalf of our state.” 

At at least three people in Nebraska and Iowa have been killed from the flooding so far.

Early estimates say Nebraska will likely face $400 million in losses from damage to livestock and fields and will have to pay $200 million to repair infrastructure, according to the congressional delegation.

Vice President Pence traveled to Nebraska Tuesday to survey the damage.

He met with Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on the trip, which was made on Trump’s request.