[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 132 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BLAIR, NEBRASKA FLOOD RESPONSE EFFORTS
Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, as you are aware, my home State of
Nebraska has battled devastating flood waters throughout much of this
summer. As often occurs during disasters, it resulted in neighbors and
communities coming together to help one another. On display in
impressive fashion was the sense of determination and self-reliance
that is woven into the character of our citizens and the fabric of our
State. I have been privileged to witness the resiliency of Nebraskans
many times throughout my public service as a county commissioner,
mayor, Governor, secretary of agriculture and now, as a U.S. Senator. I
am deeply moved by it. The flooding has been tragic, but the response
has been inspiring. One shining example of this resiliency and
compassion occurred in Blair, NE. In fact, the organized and dedicated
response in Blair so impressed officials at the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency that on
September 2, 2011, they issued a news release about the incredible
response efforts in Blair. It is entitled, ``How the People of Blair
Took Care of Their Own,''and I ask unanimous consent that it be printed
in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
How the People of Blair Took Care of Their Own
(By Paul Lomartire)
Blair, NE.--As the gritty, brown Missouri River just kept
rising in early June, so did the will of the people in this
small city northwest of Omaha. Residents of Blair's Northview
Apartments and the Longview Trailer Court were forced out of
their homes by flooding. Blair homes along the river were
also flooded and the Cottonwood Marina and Restaurant on the
Missouri River was destroyed and washed away.
``It happened so fast, the reality of this flood coming,''
recalls Harriet Waite, director of Blair's Chamber of
Commerce. ``It was like, OK, we are going to do this'.''
What they did in this city of almost 8,000 residents was to
form a committee of eight citizens to help house and feed
their neighbors who were flooded out of their homes. With
Washington County and the City of Blair governments creating
green lights, the committee of eight drove the rescue bus.
Blair is on the banks of the Missouri River across from
Iowa, their eastern neighbor.
When the flooding began in early June, Washington County
and the City of Blair struck a deal to rent the 76-room
Holling Hall on the former Dana College campus. The cost was
$5,000 monthly to the bank that owned the former Lutheran
college founded in 1884, which was forced to close in 2010.
``We cared about our business community staying open,''
explained Phil Green, Blair's assistant city administrator.
``When we knew the water was coming, there was a lot going on
with Cargill building levees to protect their plant and
levees for our water treatment plant to keep it from
flooding. We had to take care of employees in Blair whether
they lived here or in Iowa. Our priorities for housing at
Dana were Washington County residents and Washington County
workers.''
The committee of eight and other volunteers took care of
everything from organizing meals at Holling Hall to
maintenance, cleaning and security. Those families at Holling
Hall were asked to pay $150 per family unit to offset the
cost of utilities.
Move-in at the vacant Dana College facility was on the
weekend of June 11-12. There were 23 adults and 11 children
comprising 13 families. Blair's business community donated
all the supplies for Holling Hall, including paper products,
plastic ware, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and
more. Donated meals came from mom-and-pop restaurants,
national chains and local churches.
The population of flood survivors at Holling Hall hit a
highpoint on July 8, with 115 people made up of 83 adults and
32 children. One-third of Dana's temporary residents were
from Iowa.
Helen Mauney works at Crowell's Nursing Home in Blair and
lives across the river in Mondamin, Iowa. Flooding meant that
she couldn't get across the bridge to go home. Co-workers
told her that she could find temporary housing help at city
hall.
``They're wonderful people,'' she says of the ad hoc
housing committee that administers Holling Hall, where she
has lived for more than two months. ``They made it as nice as
possible. I appreciate everything they did.''
The quickly-formed Washington County Cares Committee is now
an efficient, tight-knit unit that delivered on its plan to
have all the flood survivors relocated by the end of August
and close Holling Hall.
Now the committee is transitioning into the Washington
County Long-Term Recovery Committee, according to assistant
city administrator Green. They are being advised by a Federal
Emergency Management Agency Voluntary Agency Liaison. That
help became possible on August 12, when the president
declared a major disaster that designated Washington and
eight other Nebraska counties eligible for Individual
Assistance.
Not only has the committee of eight cared for flood
survivors' daily needs for nearly two months, they also were
able to assist with deposits or rental payments up to $500 to
help with relocation from Holling Hall. That money came from
$30,000 in donations the committee has received.
``At the core,'' says Aaron Barrow, a Blair police
lieutenant and committee member, ``there's a really strong
city government and local business community that has a very
good working relationship with the ministries. Government
didn't solve all the problems, but a partnership between
government, business and churches did solve problems.''
``This city and this county are very generous,'' said
Kristina Churchill, who is the Holling Hall Food Coordinator.
``It didn't surprise me that we got help. What surprised me
was how much help we got.''
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