Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The impact of the March 13 blizzard is still being felt, and Region 21 Emergency Manager Ron Leal wants Cheyenne County to be prepared.
Part of that preparation came about Tuesday with the Board of Commissioners holding an emergency meeting to consider a Disaster Declaration.
The meeting was held with County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh, County Attorney Paul Schaub and Leal, with commissioners Randal Miller, Darrell Johnson and Philip Sanders present by teleconference.
The declaration reads that Cheyenne County faced blizzard conditions March 13 and 14, and “and will continue for several days thereafter, causing severe damage to public and private property,” as well as endangering health and safety of the county.
Leal said the intent of the emergency declaration is to be prepared to receive additional resources to recover from the storm if needed.
“The purpose of this is to get aid from NEMA (Nebraska Emergency Management Agency),” Leal said.
He said Tuesday he was contacted by Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs regarding road conditions. Frerichs had earlier that day emailed the press regarding road conditions in Cheyenne County. In the email, Frerichs forwarded a message from County Road Superintendent Doug Hart of the difficulty in keeping up with flagging and barricading washouts and overflowing ditches.
“The roads are being washed out with deep channels or eroded roadways,” Hart said in the email.
He added that flags are being put out to warn motorists and that caution should be taken on all county roads. He said road repairs will begin when the water subsides.
Leal said in the Tuesday afternoon meeting that there was water moving near Gurley.
Cheyenne County cannot receive State or Federal funding until it reaches its threshold of commitment, about $37,000. The county’s commitment can be completed in-kind values including staff and equipment.
Leal said that in addition to the threshold counties need to reach for State resources, the State has to complete its threshold to petition for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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