Pillen requests federal disaster for March winter storm, first Nebraska request of 2025

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Nebraska Examiner

By: Zach Wendling - April 14, 2025 2:37 pm

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen has requested a major federal disaster declaration for 27 Nebraska counties related to a March winter storm that disaster response officials estimate did more than $64.9 million in damage.

Pillen sent the request to President Donald Trump for the March 18-19 storms, during which the state’s public utilities suffered the most eligible damage, the most significant of which was to power poles and electrical lines. More than 1,700 poles were downed or destroyed.

Major roadways closed due to the storm — producing thunderstorms, sleet, high winds and blizzard conditions — including a 160-mile stretch of Interstate 80.

An estimated 200,000 customers were left without power at the height of the storm, and some communities established emergency shelters to help those without electricity for a prolonged time.


Torn down powerlines near Filmore County from the March storm. (Courtesy of the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office via the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency)


Read more: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-requests-federal-disaster-for-march-winter-storm-first-nebraska-request-of-2025/

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The NEW FEMA will get right on this!

[Norrrm]

1. Think 'bootstraps'. Be republican proud.

???

[progressoid]

2. Hahahahahaha!

I've literally argued with Iowans about this regarding last year's flooding. Feenstra touted FEMA relief and offices in his district. Iowans took the money and help from FEMA. And then they voted for the guy who wants to get rid of FEMA.

[AZJonnie]

3. Could be that Orangina will give them the cold shoulder

Since Nebraska being a little pissed at him won't cause any loss of power for IQ47 or the GQP generally. State won't elect Dems as a result, so, not much to gain for Trusk in helping out NE.

Or he might jump on it super loudly and quickly and proclaim 'See this is what happens when you're a good little compliant state, Trump helps you out!'. And our intrepid media outside the evening crew on MSNBC and the late night hosts will report like this is totally normal, and the way disaster relief has always worked.

[Skittles]

4. does he have anything he can give up for Trump?

because you know all such requests are shake-downs now