[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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