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President Joe Biden approves disaster declaration for Douglas and Washington counties

President Joe Biden approves disaster declaration for Douglas and Washington counties
YOU CAN SEE. THERE WE GO. THERE WE ARE. WELL, THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD IS MOVING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, CLEANING UP AFTER THE TORNADO OUTBREAK. DOZENS OF SOLDIERS ARE HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN DOUGLAS AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S ALEX MCLOON IS LIVE IN THE WOODLANDS CROSSING NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LOOTING ALEX. YEAH, BILL QUANECIA HUNDREDS OF HOMES ARE EXPOSED ACROSS DOUGLAS AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES AFTER LAST WEEK’S STORMS. BEHIND ME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN SEE A WEEK AGO, PEOPLE LOST THE ROOFS AND SIDE WALLS TO THEIR HOMES. SO OVER HERE, THE NATIONAL GUARD IS NOW TEAMING UP WITH LOCAL DEPUTIES AND POLICE TO DETER TRESPASSERS AND PREVENT THEM FROM ENTERING THE NEIGHBORHOODS. OFFICIALS HAVE CHECKPOINTS LIKE THIS SET UP IN MULTIPLE SPOTS ACROSS THE COUNTY AREAS. OFFICIALS WILL BE CHECKING DRIVERS FOR PROOF OF RESIDENCE. RESIDENTS SEE THEY’RE ALSO ASKING VOLUNTEERS AND CONTRACTORS TO SHOW PROOF OF BUSINESS. THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THREE AREAS HERE AT THE WOODLANDS CROSSING NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL AS BENNINGTON LAKES AND THE CARL ROSA NEIGHBORHOOD. MORE THAN 80 SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN ARE NOW ON THE GROUND IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. THE SHERIFF HERE SAYS LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE PREVENTED WIDESPREAD LOOTING, BUT NEED CONTINUED MANPOWER. WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PATROL DEPUTIES AS IT IS UNDER NORMAL, NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SO IT’S NICE THAT WE CAN ALLOW ALL OUR PATROL DEPUTIES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TIME OFF TO RECHARGE ON SOME OF THEIR NORMAL DAYS OFF. LOCAL DEPUTIES AND POLICE HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK SINCE FRIDAY’S STORMS TOOK OUT HOMES AND LEFT PEOPLE EXPOSED TO LOOTING, AS WELL AS THE CONCERN FOR GAWKING, SIGHTSEEING FROM PEOPLE WHO DON’T BELONG TO NEIGHBORHOODS BUT ARE STILL TAKING IN THE DEVASTATION. THIS IS A CONCERN THAT OFFICIALS HAVE MOVING. FORWARD WITH THE CLEANUP EFFORT THAT’S EXPECTED TO TAKE MONTHS. MEANWHILE, PATROLS ARE PATROLS, LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE KEEPING UP ON 911 CALLS AND REGULAR DUTIES. SO THAT’S HOW THE NATIONAL GUARD IS HELPING OUT. MEANWHILE, THE NEED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IS STILL BEING ASSESSED THERE. OFFICIALS EXPECT NATIONAL GUARDSMEN TO MOVE IN SOME TIME OVER THIS WEEKEND. THE METRO OFFICIALS ACROSS BOTH COUNTIES WILL CONTINUE REASSESSING THE NEED FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD. DAY BY DAY. LIVE I
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President Joe Biden approves disaster declaration for Douglas and Washington counties
President Joe Biden has approved the disaster declaration for Douglas and Washington counties, according to a Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson.The request, made by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday, helps with emergency relief costs like debris removal and individual assistance after the tornado outbreak in the state last week.“This approval will allow Nebraskans affected by the Arbor Day tornadoes to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Pillen said in a statement. “We know that the road to recovery will be a long one, but this declaration will help expedite processes and funding provided through FEMA, to help people take care of both immediate and long-term needs.”The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency have been working together to assess the damage.More coverage: Nearly 200 homes destroyed by last week's tornado outbreak in Douglas County, according to officialsThe preliminary assessments estimated costs in all Nebraska counties affected to be $11.5 million with over $8 million in Douglas and Washington counties.Pillen also said that additional Nebraska state troopers and Nebraska National Guard members have been requested to assist with security in the impacted counties.According to the National Weather Service, the tornado that hit Elkhorn also touched down in Bennington and Blair. It was an EF3, with a maximum width of 1,600 yards and it was on the ground for 31 miles. The NWS said it had peak winds of 165 mph.There were no reported injuries with the tornado that hit Elkhorn, according to the NWS.The state patrol says homeowners who sustained damage can click here for help.Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

President Joe Biden has approved the disaster declaration for Douglas and Washington counties, according to a Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson.

The request, made by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday, helps with emergency relief costs like debris removal and individual assistance after the tornado outbreak in the state last week.

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“This approval will allow Nebraskans affected by the Arbor Day tornadoes to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Pillen said in a statement. “We know that the road to recovery will be a long one, but this declaration will help expedite processes and funding provided through FEMA, to help people take care of both immediate and long-term needs.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency have been working together to assess the damage.

More coverage: Nearly 200 homes destroyed by last week's tornado outbreak in Douglas County, according to officials

The preliminary assessments estimated costs in all Nebraska counties affected to be $11.5 million with over $8 million in Douglas and Washington counties.

Pillen also said that additional Nebraska state troopers and Nebraska National Guard members have been requested to assist with security in the impacted counties.

According to the National Weather Service, the tornado that hit Elkhorn also touched down in Bennington and Blair. It was an EF3, with a maximum width of 1,600 yards and it was on the ground for 31 miles. The NWS said it had peak winds of 165 mph.

There were no reported injuries with the tornado that hit Elkhorn, according to the NWS.

The state patrol says homeowners who sustained damage can click here for help.

Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7