We Care: Resources, Volunteer Opportunities, Important websites and numbers

For those in need of assistance here are some resources and phone numbers:

Red Cross Disaster Relief 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

http://www.redcross.org/volunteer

http://www.redcross.org/donate

Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

Food Bank for the Heartland www.foodbankheartland.org

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency: 402-471-7421

United Way of the Midlands Dial 211

https://unitedwaymidlands.org/

Heartland Family Service 402-552-7400

Iowa Disaster Recovery CLICK HERE

Heartland Hope Mission is actively coordinating support to respond to those across the state of Nebraska, impacted by April's storms. Our West O location has now become a Crisis Response Center and will be open for families needing assistance Monday through Saturday. At this location we will offer extra assistance to families in need, providing a range of essential items, including food, diapers, formula, clothing, hygiene products, and household essentials. We will also be distributing toys to children, aiming to provide them with comfort during this challenging time. You can help by making a donation to help families recover from disaster! CLICK HERE for more info and to donate

FEMA Offers a Variety of Help for Nebraska Tornado Survivors

LINCOLN, Neb. – FEMA is offering a wide variety of help to people affected by the April tornadoes. Every homeowner and renter who suffered damage is encouraged to apply.

FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance.

Money provided by FEMA does not have to be repaid and may include:

• Serious Needs: Money for lifesaving and life-sustaining items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
• Displacement: Money to help with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while you look for a rental unit.
• Home Repair or Replacement: Money to help you repair or replace your home damaged by the disaster. The money can also help with pre-existing damage to parts of your home where the disaster caused further damage.
• Rental Assistance: Money you can use to rent housing if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster.
• Personal Property: Money to help you repair or replace appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer damaged by the disaster. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, additional computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.
• Child Care: Money to help you pay for increased or child care expenses caused by the disaster.
• Transportation: Money to help you repair or replace a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle you can use.
• Moving and Storage Expenses: Money to help you move and store personal property from your home to prevent additional damage.

Apply with FEMA Whether You Have Insurance or Not

• Everyone with disaster damage should apply whether they have insurance or not.
• If you have homeowners, renters, or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. Please stay in close contact with your insurance agency.
• FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.
• Only damage and needs related to the storms of April 25-27 are eligible.

How to Apply with FEMA

·       Visit DisasterAssistance.gov

·       Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)

·       Download and use the FEMA app

·       FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis.

·       Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI

 

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

 

SALVATION ARMY TO PARTICIPATE IN THREE METRO-AREA MULTI-AGENCY RESOURCE CENTERS (MARC) STARTING THURSDAY; MEAL SERVICE AND HOUSEHOLD-ITEM DISTRIBUTION TO CONTINUE AT BLAIR DAC

 

OMAHA, Nebraska (May 8, 2024) – Salvation Army disaster-relief teams are set to take part in three Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) starting Thursday (5/9) and lasting into the weekend. Read on for details. 

 

Elkhorn MARC: 12 p.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday (located at 9301 N. 204th St)

A Salvation Army social services caseworker will join Salvation Army disaster-relief personnel at this MARC Thursday and Friday; financial assistance to storm-impacted families (in the form of gift cards) will be available. Our teams will serve dinner Thursday evening and lunch Friday midday to those seeking assistance at the MARC; they will also offer emotional-spiritual care. A Salvation Army canteen (food truck) will also be present, with crews serving bottled water and snacks. 

 

Blair MARC: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (inside the Gym at Dana Village on the former Dana College Campus)

A Salvation Army social services caseworker will join Salvation Army disaster-relief teams at this MARC in Washington Co. on Saturday. Financial assistance to storm-impacted families (in the form of gift cards) will be available. Our personnel will serve up food and bottled water outside the venue via a Salvation Army food truck. Emotional-spiritual care will be offered.

 

Crescent, Iowa MARC: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (located at 17026 Snowhill Lane in Honey Creek, Iowa)    

Snacks, bottled water, and emotional-spiritual care will be offered by Salvation Army disaster-relief personnel at this MARC. Thrift-store vouchers will also be available. A Salvation Army social services caseworker will also be on hand to help storm-impacted families.

 

In Washington Co. – Thursday 5/9 and Friday 5/10

The Blair Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) will be open on the grounds of Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch (3935 Hwy. 133) from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. both Thurs 5/9 and Fri 5/10. The DAC is the place where storm-impacted families and individuals in the area can go to pick up free household goods and yard-clean-up supplies (rakes, shovels, brooms, etc.). Lunch and dinner will be prepared on-site at the Blair DAC; a limited number of lunches and dinners will be available on-site and the rest of the lunches and dinners will be transported by Salvation Army personnel and volunteers directly to area residents impacted by the recent storms. 

 

Monetary donations to Salvation Army’s ongoing tornado-relief efforts may be made at salarmyomaha.org.

Red Cross Meeting with Residents to Set up Recovery Plans

  

MAY 6, 2024 — The Red Cross plays a critical role in helping families and communities recover in the weeks and months after a disaster like the recent tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa.

 

Red Cross recovery casework volunteers are visiting with affected residents to help identify their next steps towards recovery. In the days and weeks ahead, Red Cross volunteers will be present at locations around the area to meet with impacted residents and set up recovery casework. Through these meetings, volunteers help residents identify their needs and find the support to meet those needs. Volunteers will work with the residents in the months ahead to help navigate the recovery process.

 

Volunteers will be at the following locations starting today, May 6, through Friday, May 10, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.:

• First Lutheran Church (2146 Wright Street, Blair, NE 68008)
• Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch (3935 State Hwy 133, Blair, NE 68008)

 

Additionally at these locations, relief supplies such as tarps, trash bags, plastic wrap, water and snacks will be available. To date, the Red Cross has distributed more 3,000 relief items to nearly 600 households.

 

Last weekend, the Red Cross participated in a Multi-Agency Resources Center (MARC) in Minden, Iowa, to help residents set up recovery plans. Plans are in the works for the Red Cross to participate in additional MARCs around the area. Details on those events will be announced once finalized.

 

More than 125 volunteers and staff have been part of the Red Cross response to the tornadoes. The Red Cross remains in contact with local officials across the impacted areas to evaluate the needs of the residents.

 

Anyone affected by the storms can receive assistance by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

 

Those interested in donating to support Disaster Relief can visit redcross.org/donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text REDCROSS to 90999