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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman and Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey received word this morning from Federal Emergency Management Agency officials that a planeload of about 70 evacuees is in the air and en route to Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. The Delta Airlines flight is expected to arrive at 10:55 a.m. CT.
Evacuees Nebraska receives will be bussed from Eppley Airfield to the Civic Auditorium, where the City of Omaha and The American Red Cross will temporarily shelter storm survivors as the city and private relief agencies seek longer-term housing for them.
The Civic Auditorium shelter is being run by the Heartland Chapter of The American Red Cross. Security services and the auditorium itself are being provided and managed by the city. Douglas County Emergency Management is coordinating the multi-pronged, multi-agency efforts, along with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
“Government agencies and relief organizations at all levels have prepared well for this possibility, and Nebraskans should be proud,” Gov. Heineman said.
Mayor Fahey said, “The people of Omaha have been ready to help since the hurricane hit, and they have responded in an overwhelming fashion.”
Gov. Heineman and Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, Nebraska’s Director of Homeland Security, also received word that the second and third flights of the day have been tentatively cancelled due to an insufficient number of evacuees recovered and ready to leave.
However, the fourth scheduled flight to Nebraska, a Sky King flight, is still tentatively scheduled to arrive at Eppley at 9:30 p.m. CT.
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