By Algis J. Laukaitis
The Lincoln Journal Star
LANCASTER COUNTY, Neb. — Lancaster County will ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay some of the cost of the Christmas blizzard.
Final figures are still being compiled, but Doug Ahlberg, the county’s emergency management director, has come up with $806,000 that could qualify for 75 percent reimbursement under the federal agency’s guidelines for disaster aid — more than $600,000.
Of the qualifying amount, $731,600 is for snow removal along emergency routes and arterial streets in Lincoln, Ahlberg said. It does not include money spent plowing residential areas, which do not qualify. The city’s preliminary estimate for snow removal after the storm was at least $1.2 million.
The Norris Public Power District based in Beatrice also claimed $60,000 in damage to its system in Lancaster County. Norris had more damage in other parts of its service territory, especially in Jefferson and Thayer counties.
Ahlberg declared a state of emergency on behalf of Lancaster County on Dec. 26, in part to get access to two Humvee ambulances at the National Guard base near the airport.
Those four-wheel-drive vehicles and dozens of others were used to transport 212 medical staff to the city’s three hospitals and several nursing homes during the storm.
People also were driven back and forth for home-health care visits. In one instance, Ahlberg said, medical staff helped a patient who had not had a kidney dialysis treatment for three days.
Ahlberg gave the County Board an update on the blizzard Tuesday. Commissioners then ratified a disaster declaration for Lancaster County, necessary before it can apply for federal aid.
Ahlberg praised the work of 326 volunteers who helped out during the storm. They included emergency management staff and members of the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club and the Pioneer Four-Wheel Drive Club. They not only helped transport people but delivered for Meals on Wheels.
Ahlberg estimated volunteers drove about 7,300 miles and used about 100 four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Commissioner Larry Hudkins thanked Ahlberg for his work during the storm and his coordination of the volunteers.
Ahlberg noted many volunteers gave up Christmas Day and family time to “get people to where they needed to be.”
Another storm is in the forecast for today and Thursday. Ahlberg said the biggest danger from the storm won’t be the snow but the severe wind chill. Forecasters are predicting wind gusts up to 40 mph and below-zero temperatures.
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