Nebraska officials give timeline for FEMA aid after disaster declaration

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Earlier this week, FEMA announced relief funding became available in 17 Nebraska counties, including Douglas, after President Joe Biden approved a federal disaster declaration for damage from storms between late May and early June.

The Douglas County Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) said there are two types of FEMA aid. One is public assistance for local governments for things like debris cleanup.

However, county and city officials said it can take months—even years—to see the funding.

Douglas County’s chief administration officer, Patrick Bloomingdale, told 6 News the county doesn’t really have much to deal with for the spring storms, but that it’s still waiting to see FEMA public assistance reimbursements for paying dumping fees after the April tornadoes.

“We have not received any notification or communications yet from FEMA on our request that we submitted,” Bloomingdale said.

But the city of Omaha said the approved declaration this week will allow it to apply for replenishing funds for debris cleanup and flood damage following the May and June storms. Until then, budgets for public works and parks and recreation will cover those costs.

The other kind of FEMA aid is individual assistance, which is directly sent to households.

DCEMA said some of April’s tornado-impacted residents have already received individual assistance funds after going through insurance and donation avenues.

However, they said residents flooded out of the Grandridge Apartments on May 21 are likely not to receive money from Tuesday’s approved declaration.

Bloomingdale said the county doesn’t know yet if it’ll get reimbursement for the July 31 windstorm.

To give more perspective on how long it can take federal dollars to come in, the city’s finance department said it’s still waiting to receive some FEMA funds for the 2019 floods.

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