(Omaha, NE) -- Cities across the metro are worried about not being able to properly staff up for summer activities.
Omaha needs 300 lifeguards, but so far they've only hired 220.
Jenni Hubbard, Omaha's aquatics coordinator, says they are considering a variety of measures to mitigate the problem.
“That could be pools that partner, they’re open one day and the other is open the next day so we’d combine staff, delayed opening or shortened hour, it just kind of all depends what that final number is that we do get,” she says.
On the other side of the border, Council Bluffs only has about half of its needed workforce.
Mike Bond, the aquatics director for Council Bluffs, says: "Right now I only have enough guards to open one pool and only for open swim, no lessons, no pool parties. none of the extras, that how short we are right now." Bond says the Council Bluffs pools will be hosting an open interview session at Pirate Cove on Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. If guards end up working for the Council Bluffs pools, Bond says their lifeguard certification process will be free.
Applications can be completed for the Council Bluffs pool here.
To apply at Omaha’s public pools, you can sign up for an in-person or virtual interview here.