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(Omaha, NE) Nebraska welcomed 107 additional Hurricane Katrina evacuees to Omaha overnight, bringing the total of Federal Emergency Management Agency-directed storm survivors here to 166. A midmorning flight Saturday brought 59 evacuees to Omaha.
The first planeload of Louisiana evacuees arrived at Eppley Airfield in Omaha shortly after 11:35 a.m. The second plane arrived shortly after 11:20 p.m. Both sets of evacuees have been bussed to the Civic Auditorium, where the City of Omaha and The American Red Cross are temporarily sheltering 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.
“From front-line volunteers to the doctors, nurses and mental health practitioners, I want to thank everyone who has helped Nebraska open its arms to our neighbors in need,” said Gov. Heineman, who greeted evacuees with Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey earlier today.
Mayor Fahey said, “Our city, state and private relief agencies have been preparing for days, and it is clear from our conversations with evacuees that they appreciate the work of everyone involved.”
This is the final expected flight of federally-directed evacuees bound for Nebraska for at least the next several days. FEMA has put states willing to accept evacuees on a daily rotation of readiness. Today was Nebraska’s first stint on the rotation.
A second stint has not been set.
Please Note: Media questions about the accessibility of the terminal at Eppley Airfield should be directed to the Omaha Airport Authority. Questions about obtaining access to the Civic Auditorium should be directed to the Omaha Mayor’s Office. Questions about the sheltering process and shelter operations should be directed to The American Red Cross. Questions about the federal-state-local interface and about how state agencies are assisting evacuees in their time of transition should be directed to the Governor’s Office.
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