BEATRICE – Public damage in Gage County done by a recent severe storm is not extensive enough to receive a federal disaster declaration but should make the county eligible for state assistance.


Gage County Emergency Manager Lisa Wiegand gave a report to the county board of supervisors Wednesday on the weekend storm that did extensive wind damage in the southern part of the county and dropped huge hail on homes and vehicles in the Beatrice area.


"What we're waiting on right now is the total damage assessment which has been placed by the disaster committee at $2.7 million...and in order for us to get a federal declaration...that will have to reach $3.2 million. We're still identifying some of those costs yet, coming in...but it's not looking favorable for a federal disaster."


Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann previously signed a disaster declaration for Gage County. The City of Beatrice didn’t receive enough public facility damage to warrant a declaration by the city. Wiegand says some of the cost comes from debris management following the storm.


"What it took to just clear out trees...they've got four piles, and those piles were measured and we placed a value on actually what it's going to take to chip...and what it took to cut them and the public municipalities that helped remove those. FEMA has to give us a cost analysis back. The state has identified and we have received that proclamation from Governor Ricketts, for the City of Wymore. Hopefully, there will be state funding as they get to that point of managing that debris pile."


During the June 11th storm, strong straight-line winds spun off by a tornado in southern Gage County did significant tree, utility and building damage in and around Wymore. Damage from large hail was felt mostly in north and east areas of Beatrice.


Only public damage is reimbursed in disaster declarations, with private property owners having to rely on insurance, to recover from the storm.