Nebraska Governor Declares Drought Emergency

LINCOLN, Neb. – Governor Mike Johanns announced last week that he signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Nebraska with regard to the drought. The Governor also announced the next meeting of the drought management team and recapped federal assistance approved thus far for agriculture to help with drought conditions.

Gov. Johanns has been closely monitoring drought conditions and toured drought stricken areas of Western Nebraska in early May. That tour included visits to Swanson Reservoir near Trenton in southwest Nebraska and to Farmer’s Irrigation District Canal north of Scottsbluff in the panhandle.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, much of Western Nebraska is experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions.
Gov. Johanns said, “Despite occasional rain storms in western areas of our State and decent rainfall in eastern Nebraska, many Nebraskans are facing widespread and severe drought conditions. This emergency declaration means that state government is prepared to assist communities in dealing with drought related emergencies. The key word is teamwork, and the state is going to be a partner in assisting communities in addressing drought issues.”

Gov. Johanns continued, “The declaration activates a system that will allow the state to assist local jurisdictions in rapidly dealing with drought related problems. An inventory will be taken of public and private resources available within Nebraska and regionally to address drought issues. At the same time, a communications network is being activated and enhanced to allow for timely collection of information from – and distribution of information to – local jurisdictions including cities and counties, for example.”

Adjutant General Roger Lempke, director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said, “NEMA is on alert status. This means specific personnel are now assigned to monitor the state through contact with local jurisdictions and other state agencies.”

The emergency declaration also authorizes the use of the Governor’s Emergency Fund to assist local jurisdictions with emergency needs. The fund’s use is limited to public or government needs and cannot be used for private or individual needs.

The governor's emergency declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP) to address unmet needs brought on by the drought and directs State and appropriate Federal agencies to cooperate with Nebraska's Adjutant General upon his request to provide the appropriate assistance. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency is the lead agency under the declaration and will utilize the SEOP to coordinate the State's response to requests for assistance.

There are nine emergency support functions (ESF) that are activated by a governor's emergency declaration, including transportation, communications, public works/utilities, fire suppression, information/planning, mass care, law enforcement, health and medical, and urban search and rescue. One state department/agency is designated with the responsibility for coordinating response activities for the assigned ESF.