Three cycle awards account for $3.25 million May-June 2008 storm damage money; $1.8 million remains

DEC. 1, 2009 (LINCOLN, NE)— The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) today awarded $186,942 in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding for four projects resulting from May and June 2008 storm damage.

Six applicants initially requested a total $1,138,242 for this funding round. Communities receiving funding included:

• Fairbury received $38,200 CDBG funding to conduct a comprehensive study of the storm sewers, roads and ditches that were damaged by May and June 2008 storms. The study will identify and analyze drainage and damaged infrastructure issues and explore alternative repairs and improvements. It will then be used to prioritize the necessary repairs and improvements. Contact Sharyl Preston, City Clerk, at 402-729-2476.
• Hickman received $75,000 for the Hickman Storm Water/Drainage Master Plan that will assess the existing storm water system specific to the city’s interior storm water network, and evaluate the Salt Creek watershed areas of the tributaries within and adjacent to the city. The plan will identify problem areas and prioritize necessary drainage improvements. Contact Brett Baker, City Administrator/Clerk, at 402-792-2212.
• Sargent received $9,742 in the Disaster Public Infrastructure category to reimburse it for the 12.5 percent local match required for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to repair damaged infrastructure resulting from storms that occurred May 22-June 24, 2008. During the storms, water flooded basements and infiltrated the city’s sanitary sewer system, causing abnormal water flow and silt to collect in the system. The storm also damaged streets and shoulders and over-saturated ground resulted in collapsing clay sewer pipes. Contact Kathy Drake, City Clerk, at 308-527-4200.
• Syracuse received $64,000 for the Syracuse Stream Bank Assessment and Improvement Plan that will investigate two portions of stream bank subjected to instability and infrastructure damage following a June 5, 2008 storm. At various locations, the city’s utilities still remain exposed from this storm. The Assessment and Improvement Plan will identify vulnerable areas and prioritize drainage improvement and stream restoration projects. Contact Peggy Hobscheidt, City Clerk, at 402-269-5078.

All applications were reviewed by the 2008 CDBG Disaster Recovery team, which included representatives from DED, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency to ensure they met compliance with national and state thresholds. If they successfully met those qualifications, they were competitively scored and ranked according to guideline criteria. For example, public infrastructure funding must be used to restore infrastructure in areas covered by the major disaster declaration. Eligible activities include debris removal, road/bridge repair, water control facility repair, repair or replacement of public buildings, utility repair, and FEMA grant reimbursement. Eligible Disaster Recovery Planning activities include flood studies, mapping, zoning/building code ordinance revisions, floodplain ordinances, drainage basin studies, infrastructure studies, and building requirements.

Disaster Recovery funding is still available for Public Infrastructure category projects. Guidelines and application material may be found on DED’s website at http://www.neded.org/content/view/877/156/ . Please submit completed applications to the attention of Audrey York at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, P.O. Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666.

For information, contact Audrey York at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1532, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it