June 25, 2010 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson viewed storm and flood damage in the Norfolk area, and met with area civic leaders to gather details of the impact on their communities. Senator Nelson toured the area to get a firsthand view of damage caused by recent heavy storms and floods, and evaluate how to best assist rebuilding and recovery efforts.
“Today, I saw serious storm damage to Norfolk area homes, businesses and the railroad bridge over the Elkhorn River. Extraordinary flooding caused extraordinary damage. It’s important to see this firsthand to understand the impact on people’s lives,” Senator Nelson said in Norfolk.
Nelson told a group of Norfolk area civic leaders he will push federal agencies for prompt consideration of the state’s expected request for a federal disaster declaration, and for swift action. An initial state estimate says the floods caused about $13 million in damage to roads, bridges and other public property across Nebraska.
“We want to do everything we can to expedite requests for federal aid. We will put every bit of pressure on the federal government we can to ensure that Nebraskans receive the appropriate resources needed to get fully back in business,” Senator Nelson said.
On his Norfolk area tour, Nelson stopped at Love Signs Inc., a local sign-making business that was inundated with floodwater, examined the washed out railroad bridge at Elkhorn River and saw flood damage to the river.
“They need protection where the river wants to cut a new channel,” he said after viewing the river with Dennis Houston, president of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. “We need to keep the river from cutting where we don’t want it to cut.”
Norfolk Mayor Sue Fuchtman said, “On behalf of the entire community, we’ve been so fortunate to have Senator Nelson’s help up here.”
In addition to pledging to push for a quick federal response, Nelson also told those he met that Nebraskans could benefit from a bill he cosponsored this week to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through the end of this year.
The program expired on May 31, 2010. Because flood insurance is required by law in order to obtain a mortgage in a 100-year floodplain, Senator Nelson has heard from many Nebraskans whose home sales have been delayed by the NFIP expiration.
“Reauthorizing the federal flood insurance program will further stabilize housing markets that require flood insurance, including many in Nebraska that have been impacted by the recent heavy rains and flooding,” the senator said.
According to the National Association of Realtors, neighborhoods in more than 20,000 communities across the country sit on a 100 year flood plain and 5 and 1/2 million homes and businesses rely on NFIP as their primary source of protection against flooding. The NFIP was created in 1968 to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves, since standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. The NFIP offers insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Nelson Views Nebraska Flood Damage
June 25, 2010 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson viewed storm and flood damage in the Norfolk area, and met with area civic leaders to gather details of the impact on their communities. Senator Nelson toured the area to get a firsthand view of damage caused by recent heavy storms and floods, and evaluate how to best assist rebuilding and recovery efforts.
“Today, I saw serious storm damage to Norfolk area homes, businesses and the railroad bridge over the Elkhorn River. Extraordinary flooding caused extraordinary damage. It’s important to see this firsthand to understand the impact on people’s lives,” Senator Nelson said in Norfolk.
Nelson told a group of Norfolk area civic leaders he will push federal agencies for prompt consideration of the state’s expected request for a federal disaster declaration, and for swift action. An initial state estimate says the floods caused about $13 million in damage to roads, bridges and other public property across Nebraska.
“We want to do everything we can to expedite requests for federal aid. We will put every bit of pressure on the federal government we can to ensure that Nebraskans receive the appropriate resources needed to get fully back in business,” Senator Nelson said.
On his Norfolk area tour, Nelson stopped at Love Signs Inc., a local sign-making business that was inundated with floodwater, examined the washed out railroad bridge at Elkhorn River and saw flood damage to the river.
“They need protection where the river wants to cut a new channel,” he said after viewing the river with Dennis Houston, president of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. “We need to keep the river from cutting where we don’t want it to cut.”
Norfolk Mayor Sue Fuchtman said, “On behalf of the entire community, we’ve been so fortunate to have Senator Nelson’s help up here.”
In addition to pledging to push for a quick federal response, Nelson also told those he met that Nebraskans could benefit from a bill he cosponsored this week to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through the end of this year.
The program expired on May 31, 2010. Because flood insurance is required by law in order to obtain a mortgage in a 100-year floodplain, Senator Nelson has heard from many Nebraskans whose home sales have been delayed by the NFIP expiration.
“Reauthorizing the federal flood insurance program will further stabilize housing markets that require flood insurance, including many in Nebraska that have been impacted by the recent heavy rains and flooding,” the senator said.
According to the National Association of Realtors, neighborhoods in more than 20,000 communities across the country sit on a 100 year flood plain and 5 and 1/2 million homes and businesses rely on NFIP as their primary source of protection against flooding. The NFIP was created in 1968 to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves, since standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. The NFIP offers insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities.
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