Worst flooding in history of Nebraska, damage surpasses 1.3 billion
A state of emergency is in effect in Nebraska after massive floods triggered by rapid snowmelt, ice-covered rivers and heavy rain dumped by major late-winter storm. More heavy rain is expected in the region by the end of the week.
The financial impact could be more than $1.3 billion, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said. That includes $449 million in damage to roads, levees and other infrastructure, $440 million in crop losses, and $400 million in cattle losses.
Surveyed flood damage in Plattsmouth and many other southeast Nebraska communities along the Missouri River which is so high it’s almost impossible to see across to the Iowa/Missouri banks in some places.#NebraskaFlood | #NebraskaStrong pic.twitter.com/XPsTBM37or
— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) March 21, 2019
Gov. Ricketts estimated that more than 2 000 homes and 340 businesses were damaged or destroyed, totaling at least $85 million.
"I don't think there's ever been a disaster this widespread in Nebraska," Ricketts said.
By Sunday morning, March 24, the rain is expected to spread into the lower to mid-Mississippi Valley exacerbating flood problems across the region.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Featured image credit: Gov. Pete Ricketts
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