January 3, 2007

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has established a hotline for ag producers who are in need of or have generators to lend to those without power because of recent storms.

The hotline can be accessed by dialing 800-422-6692. The hotline will be available from 8 to 5 p.m. (cst).

The Nebraska Cattlemen have established a hotline for producers who have hay to donate to producers, are who are in need of hay. To reach this hotline, please call 308-762-3005.

Officials with the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) joined Governor Dave Heineman on an aerial tour of several damaged areas earlier this week.

"We have some tough days ahead of us," Heineman said in a Jan. 2 news release. "The reality is that the damage from this storm is far more massive than any of the early estimates predicted. It's possible that some Nebraskans could be without power for more than a week, and it could take several months for our electrical infrastructure to be fully restored. There are several communities still without power and the state will continue working with power districts to provide access to emergency generators and assist residents in those towns.

"While the immediate goal is to get power to the most people possible, crews are also working to restore power for those in the most remote parts of the affected region. I want to assure all Nebraskans that we are putting all our available resources to work to help those without power, but I also want to ask residents to remain clam, exercise caution and be patient. This recovery is going to take more than a few days, but I am confident that Nebraska will get through this."

NPPD officials estimate that the New Year's storms were the worst to hit central Nebraska since 1976. Within a five county area, an estimated 500 to 600 miles of transmission lines are inoperable. Officials estimate that 100 to 200 miles of those downed or severely damaged lines will need to be replaced.

The geographic area impacted by the storm runs from Lexington north to Broken Bow and extends northeast through Neligh and Norfolk, south through Aurora and down to the Kansas border. At least 28 counties suffered damage leading to a disruption of electrical service during the past few days.

Holdrege is the largest Nebraska city still without power. NPPD and NEMA are working with other power districts to secure diesel generators to help provide emergency power.

All or part of a number of other communities remain without power, according to NEMA officials, including: Amherst, Axtell, Belgrade, Eddyville, Heartwell, Hildreth, Holstein, Huntley, Kenesaw, Miller, Norman, Petersburg, Prosser, Ragan, Riverton, Roseland, Sumner, Trumbull, and Wilcox, in addition to most of Phelps County.

NDA Announces Details for Ongoing Operation of Generator Hotline

Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach today announced details regarding the ongoing operation of NDA's Generator Hotline, which was opened earlier this week to help farmers and rural residents affected by the winter storm. Ibach said the database of those with available generators and those in need of generators will be made available through various resources, including via NDA's web site, beginning today.

"We have been impressed by the level of support shown by Nebraskans for our farmers, ranchers and rural residents who are without power because of the ice storm," Director Ibach said. "Our database of those offering generators for loan or sale continues to grow. We are hopeful that by making the full database easily accessible, those in need of generators will be able to find the best match to suit their individual needs for electricity."

Individuals who have access to a generator to loan, rent, or sell, or those who are in need of a generator, should call NDA toll-free at 800-422-6692 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday to be added to the database. The database will be posted on the NDA web site at www.agr.ne.gov, and will be updated at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Those who have generators or need generators can review the database, determine if there is a listing that fulfills their power needs, and then make direct contact with that individual.

NDA will cooperate with University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and Nebraska Farm Service Agency (FSA) to make the listing available at those offices. Individuals also can still call NDA to receive one-on-one assistance in helping locate available generators.

"We recognize that, without power, folks will not be able to access the generator database on-line from their homes. We are hoping that by making the listing widely available, through the NDA web page and through County Extension and FSA offices, it will get circulated and shared so that those in need will have as many options as possible for securing a generator," Ibach said. "We will work with farmers, ranchers and rural residents as much as possible, so that they can maintain their agricultural operations and homes through this challenging time."

To keep the Generator Hotline database current, those who have had their power needs met or those who have distributed their generators are asked to call the NDA hotline at 800-422-6692 and have their name removed from the listing.

Nebraska Department of Agriculture
News Release, Jan. 4, 2007