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Green Bay firefighters assist residents in evacuating their homes due to the East river flooding on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wis. Heavy rain falling atop deeply frozen ground has prompted evacuations along swollen rivers in Wisconsin, Nebraska and other Midwestern states, while powerful wind and snow has impacted hundreds of miles of interstates in North Dakota. (Adam Wesley/The Post-Crescent via AP) ORG XMIT: WIAPP505 (Photo: Adam Wesley, AP)

At least one man is dead, two others are missing and nearly 900 people are inside temporary shelters amid the worst flooding in Nebraska in 50 years following a "bomb cyclone" storm that wreaked havoc across the Great Plains this week.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and the the state's national guard on Friday surveyed the damage – including flooded farms, homes, bridges and highways – caused by what Ricketts called "devastating flooding" that's perhaps the worst in a half-century.

"This could last for quite some time,” he said, urging people to "watch the weather and waterways in their communities closely in the coming days, and be prepared for historic levels of flooding even if it has not hit their community yet."

Thanks to the @NENationalGuard for their great work with this rescue by Arlington today. #NebraskaFloodpic.twitter.com/Ri69TTqPRy — Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) March 16, 2019

Nebraska has been in a state of emergency since Tuesday due to heavy rainfall. The massive "bomb cyclone" battered the central United States this week with heavy snow, howling winds and several tornadoes. Flooding has forced evacuations in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Minnesota as well.

Stretches of interstates across Nebraska have been shut down. At least four bridges on state highways are washed out and damaged. The Nebraska National Guard on Saturday morning warned residents that it's still dangerous to travel despite the sun that finally appeared.

"We repeat: It is still dangerous to enter any flood waters, and roads continue to be closed across the state," the Nebraska National Guard tweeted. "DO NOT TRAVEL unless necessary, and NEVER drive through flood waters."

We repeat: It is still dangerous to enter any flood waters, and roads continue to be closed across the state. DO NOT TRAVEL unless necessary, and NEVER drive through flood waters. https://t.co/mb3o8DzspU — NE National Guard (@NENationalGuard) March 16, 2019

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has reported emergency declarations in 41 cities and 53 of Nebraska's 93 counties, largely in the northeast part of the state that includes the state's largest city Omaha.

But NEMA set out to dispel reports that a nuclear plant, the Cooper Nuclear Station Facility, near Brownsville, Nebraska, is a threat to flood.

"The photo below is FALSE NEWS — Cooper Nuclear Station Facility is operating at full power," NEMA tweeted. "They have 100% access via an alternate road."

The photo below is FALSE NEWS— Cooper Nuclear Station Facility is operating at full power. They have 100% access via an alternate road. @NEMAtweets will update the public if that situation changes. pic.twitter.com/6fpvNtl0IO — NEMA (@NEMAtweets) March 15, 2019

The Omaha-World Herald has reported one fatality, a farmer in the town of Columbus. James Wilke drove his tractor out to assist flood victims despite the howling wind and rain. Two others are believed to be missing.

Wilke tried to cross a bridge, the newspaper reported, but it collapsed because of the tractor's weight, sending Wilkes into a rising creek underneath. His body was discovered around nine hours later near his farm.

"He was always the first to go help somebody,” the newspaper quoted his cousin, Paul Wilke, saying. “He was a person who wouldn’t just talk about making things better. He would do it."

Meanwhile, a levee breech in Fremont, about 50 miles northwest of Omaha, forced evacuations in some parts of the community to seek higher ground.

The Nebraska-SW Iowa Region of the Red Cross has set up several temporary shelters across Nebraska for people to seek refuge. Red Cross has said they've served 880 folks so far.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/16/nebraska-flooding-worst-50-years-following-bomb-cyclone-storm/3184806002/</s>People across the Panhandle continue to dig out after Wednesday’s blizzard, but the Nebraska Department of Transportation says more highways in western Nebraska are now open for drivers.

As of 7 a.m. Friday, all highways are open WITH THE EXCEPTION OF: Highway 71, Highway 19, Highway 88, Highway 29, Highway 29, and Highway 2 from Hemingford to the Highway 71 junction. Those highways remain closed.

Roads may still be slick, and drivers are encouraged to exercise caution.

Additionally, in town many side streets are still undriveable. There are multiple reports of vehicles still getting stuck on non-emergency snow routes and are being forced to abandoned their vehicles.

Local city crews are continuing their efforts to clear roads, and patience from the public is requested.</s>A mandatory evacuation order was issued for neighborhoods around the city of Fremont in eastern Nebraska on Saturday, after a levee along the Platte river was breached amidst continued serious flooding.

Officials ordered residents to leave their homes as floodwater rushed in. Trinity Lutheran and Salem Lutheran churches in Fremont were opened as shelters.

Crews in parts of Nebraska were using boats to rescue people from floodwaters in which at least one person has died. Two others are missing.

The flooding happened after a deluge of recent rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers.

The family of 50-year-old James Wilke, of Columbus, Nebraska, said he was driving his tractor to rescue stranded motorists on a county road cut off by flooding on Thursday when a bridge he was crossing collapsed. His cousin, Paul Wilke, told the Columbus Telegram James Wilke’s body was found downstream. A funeral home confirmed the death.

Officials in other parts of Nebraska said a Norfolk man was seen on top of his flooded car late on Thursday before being swept away and another man was missing after being swept away when a dam collapsed on the Niobrara river.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by reports of levee breaches and washouts of bridges and roads, including part of Nebraska Highway 92 leading in and out of south-west Omaha. Authorities also confirmed that a bridge on that highway that crosses the Elkhorn river had been washed away. The towns of North Bend and a large portion of Columbus were submerged on Friday.

The National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Pierce, in Davenport, Iowa, said moderate flooding on Saturday along the Mississippi river was just the beginning of the “dress rehearsal for the main event that’s going to happen in early April”, given that there is snow in Minnesota and Wisconsin that has yet to melt.

When it does, he said, there will be another round of flooding in those states that will then move south along the Mississippi into Illinois and Iowa. The Mississippi recorded moderate flooding Saturday from Rock Island, Illinois, south to Burlington, Iowa.</s>Nebraska is nearly underwater. Historic flooding, coupled with some unfortunate disasters, including a levee breaking near Fremont and a dam breaking along the Niobrara River on Thursday, has caused severe damage and water to inundate to the state beginning earlier this week.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, along with several partner agencies, continue to work to mitigate damage and provide resources to those hardest hit by the storm.

For those hoping to donate, please be wary that scammers will start many fraudulent charities hoping to capitalize on the destruction. The state has begun the Nebraska/Southwest Iowa Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund - to donate, head to this link. At that link, you'll find ways to help, from volunteering to donating blood or money.

Evacuations are ongoing throughout the state, according to the Saturday morning update from the state's emergency agency. Travel is considered extremely dangerous as conditions continue to change moment to moment. Unless you must travel, do not, state officials warn.

The levee near Valley has "overtopped" and could be breached - which would flood the region. State emergency officials said it was impossible to find out if the levee was broken because the area was inaccessible. The state is trying to figure out a way to reach it.

According to the National Weather Service's Omaha office, a levee breach has also been reported as of 8:20 a.m. Saturday on the northwest side of Fremont; a flash flood warning is in effect for 31,000 people in the area until 9 p.m.

All evacuation notices issued in the state, no matter if they are suggested or mandatory, should be heeded, the state warns. If residents ignore evacuation recommendations, they could be forced to remain where they are for some time if they become trapped.

As of 7 p.m. Friday, 41 cities, 53 counties and one tribal area have declared emergencies in the state. Reports are still floating in of people on roads slowing down to get pictures of video of the devastation; the Nebraska Department of Transportation asks people to stop - especially if they're on Interstate 80 traveling across the Platte River. Unexpected slowdowns cause confusion and accidents.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have been working with local officials and Nebraska Game and Parks officers on water rescues throughout Friday night into Saturday morning, the state says. State patrol has also deployed two lightly armored vehicles to help with rescues in north-central and northeast Nebraska. These types of vehicles can reach places normal rescue vehicles can't. The state says troopers are also being moved around from less affected areas to the more affected areas; additional troopers have also been called in from required days off to help.

According to a late-Friday update from the state's National Guard unit, members have joined in to help by offering aerial observation of the flooding - an important step in recovery.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets and Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac surveyed the damage and held press conferences in Omaha and Norfolk, Nebraska, to provide information on the very latest.

The Red Cross of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa has opened or partnered with 10 shelters across the region - an exact location and list can be found at this link. Anyone displaced from their homes is welcomed at a shelter. Volunteers are on hand and will provide a safe place to stay, sleep and eat.

Part of what's to blame for such intense flooding is the general inundation of the Mississippi and Missouri River Basins, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is historic river flooding that will likely continue throughout the weekend. Widespread flood warnings and advisories remain in effect, especially in eastern Nebraska, Iowa and southern Wisconsin, the NOAA said.

Viral post says wonders where the media is

In a post shared almost 8,000 times in less than a day, a woman named Lindsay Ogle wrote a public Facebook post inquiring about the media coverage or lack thereof.

"We are a 'flyover' state," she writes, "we are the 'deplorables.' We are 'not for everyone.' We are not newsworthy and I have yet to see or read one article on national news about our devastation."

While NBC News and CNN have both covered the story on a national level, news stories about the tragedy occurring in Nebraska appear far and few between - especially outside of the state.

From aerial video and photos, it appears whole communities have been washed away by the storm. Maj. Gen. Bohac with the state's National Guard posted a video to Twitter Saturday morning showing areas as far as the eye can see covered in water.

"We are hurting," Ogle begins her Facebook post. "We are flooding. As in - half the state under water. Entire towns under water. Massive structures/bridges/roads are floating away. Dams breaking. Rivers jamed [sic] with and without ice are overflowing."

Ogle says on Facebook that the state is strong: "We pray. We care about one another. We help our neighbors. I'm proud to be from here. I'm sad to know that it'll take years to recover from this. But the sun is out today and the winds have calmed (compared to yesterday, at least)."

Ogle ends her post by asking for the country's prayers and support. She is also asking, intrinsically, for the country's attention as well.</s>Nebraska farmer trying to save others killed in flooding

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — At least one person has died and at least two others are missing in floodwaters that have swamped towns and farmland, washed out roads and bridges and drowned livestock in Nebraska in the wake of a late-winter storm that overwhelmed rivers and creeks with rain and snowmelt.

The family of 50-year-old James Wilke, of Columbus, Nebraska, says he was driving his tractor to rescue stranded motorists on a county road cut off by flooding Thursday when a bridge he was crossing collapsed. His cousin, Paul Wilke, told the Columbus Telegram that James Wilke's body was found downstream. Gass Haney Funeral Home confirmed James Wilke's death.

Officials in other parts of Nebraska say a Norfolk man was seen on top of his flooded car late Thursday before being swept away in the water and another man is missing after being swept away by waters when a dam collapsed on the Niobrara River.</s>A state of emergency has been declared in Nebraska after heavy rains and melting snow caused history flooding throughout the state. Governor Pete Ricketts declared the state of emergency in order to allow access to relief funds and other resources. There has been at least one flood-related death reported, after one man was swept away by floodwaters.

Bryan Tuma, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency told Omaha World Herald that a farmer was driving a tractor to help a motorist who was stuck in the rising waters when he was suddenly swept away and killed. 



There has been evacuation across multiple eastern Nebraska towns, as well as at least one town in Iowa. 



According to the Lincoln State Journal, there have been thousands of residents asked to leave their homes as floods worsen. 



The flooding is a result of a powerful winter storm, dubbed a “bomb cyclone” which has left blizzards, floods and tornadoes in its wake as it tracked across the US Mountain and Plains states this week. Read More: Kansas and Oklahoma on HIGH ALERT as 15 TORNADO warnings issued in US

Thirteen tornadoes were reported in Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan on Thursday according to Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Center's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.



However, none of the thirteen tornadoes was reported to have caused serious damage.



Dangerous flooding caused a dramatic rescue on Thursday, which saw emergency crew members saved by a National Guard helicopter after their boat capsized. 



The seven first responders were travelling along the Elkhorn River to assist a family trapped in their home when they capsized. 



It has now pushed eastwards into the Midwest and the Great Lakes Region as of early Friday local time. Persistent heavy rain from the severe storm falling on snowy and icy ground has caused rivers to swell and dangerous floodwaters to rise. 



This is impacting Nebraska, Wisconsin and other Midwestern States, whilst North Dakota faces severe winds and snow. 



Forecasters predict that flooding could last well into the weekend, with several highways becoming impassible in Wisconsin, and farmers worry that livestock would drown. 



Meteorologist Paul Fajman said: “With the frozen ground and amount of rain our area had, it was just a perfect set of circumstances that led to the flooding we’re seeing in Nebraska and Iowa.”



According to News Channel Nebraska, the Mormon Creek Bridge was completely washed away by the Niobrara River on Thursday morning. 



Residents who lived along the Niobrara were then urged to evacuate as the Spencer Dam failed. 



Flood waters have also destroyed and washed away Nebraska Department of Transportation buildings and equipment say News Channel Nebraska.</s>The Missouri River rose to record heights at Nebraska City Saturday morning, and the river is forecast to drop below flood stage by March 24.

As of 10:45 a.m. March 16, the river level was 29.86 feet, more than a foot and a half higher than the previous record of 28.27 feet during the 2011 flood.

The National Weather Service is forecasting the river will crest at 30.2 feet on Sunday, March 17.

Friday afternoon saw the closure of state and federal highways that service Nebraska City. Interstate 29 was closed at Exit 35 after flood waters overtopped a levee near Bartlett. That closure was extended from Council Bluffs to Rock Port on Saturday morning.

Iowa 2 was closed between the Missouri River bridge and Highway 275 on Friday because of flooding.

Other road closures are in effect until further notice. Check 511.nebraska.gov and iowadot.gov for state and federal road closures.

The Emergency Management Office in Fremont County has a list of local roads closed. Visit https://www.co.fremont.ia.us/ and click on the "roads closed press release" link at the top of the page.

In other parts of Nebraska, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), partner agencies, emergency officials, and volunteers remain hard at work assisting with historically catastrophic conditions statewide.

NEMA is tracking conditions across the state, responding to requests for assistance from local emergency managers and developing a common operating picture to keep local officials aware of the situation.

The State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) was opened Wednesday and will remain open as long as needed. The SEOC is staffed by officials from NEMA, Nebraska State Patrol, Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Fire Marshal, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Nebraska Military Department, and other agencies.

As Nebraskans pull together to support one another in this severe weather event, we encourage people to be cautious of fraudulent donation sites that are beginning to appear on social media. Monetary donations can be made to the Nebraska/SW Iowa Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Safety and Security: Evacuations are taking place throughout the state at this time. Travel is extremely dangerous with conditions changing rapidly. Non-essential travel is not advised.

The levee near Valley has overtopped and is possibly breached, causing water to flood the area. The National Weather Service at Valley has relocated. Confirmation on the condition of the levee is impossible to ascertain due to inaccessibility. Alternative options for inspecting the area are being explored.

All evacuation notices, suggested and mandatory, are STRONGLY encouraged. By ignoring evacuation recommendations, extraction requests made later may be delayed.

Troopers with the NSP have been working with local officials and Nebraska Game and Parks officers on water rescues overnight and into the morning. NSP has deployed two light armored vehicles (LAV) to assist with water rescue in north central and northeast Nebraska. The LAVs are able to reach places that a normal rescue vehicle cannot. Troopers are also being repositioned from less affected areas to the more affected areas to assist with flood response. Additional troopers have also been called in from required days off to assist in these emergency situations.

Urban Search and Rescue-Task Force One, the Nebraska National Guard, and the Nebraska State Patrol are working together to provide water and air rescue missions.

Several state parks are closed due to weather conditions. To find out if a park is closed, check http://outdoornebraska.gov/weatherclosures/

Evacuations (full and partial) as of Friday, March, 15, at 1 p.m.:

Beemer Belgrade Cedar Rapids Dannebrog Genoa-Lake Oconee Inglewood-DHHS Call Center Randolph City Auditorium Northern Butler County Eastern Richardson County Pender-Senior Living Broken Bow Senior Center Linoma Beach Norfolk Fremont Hospital Anselmo Lynch Wisner South Bend Middle Island Louisville Trailer Park Cedar Creek along the river Plattsmouth: OMA Fish and Wildlife, Moorehead Island, Beach Road, and low-lying areas Eastern Washington County Beemer (parts of) Pleasanton (parts of) Bucaneer Bay neighborhood Valley Sarpy County Platte and Missouri rivers West Point (western section)

Food, Water, Sheltering: Red Cross reports there are 721 people in Red Cross and partner shelters. Shelters are open in the following places:

Freemont (First Lutheran Church, 3200 Military Avenue; enter Mission Center on NW corner of campus)

Several towns are experiencing disruptions in water service. Updates will be included on the NEMA social media accounts.

For veterans affected by the recent flooding in Nebraska, the Nebraska Veterans Aid (NVA) may be able to assist with food, clothing, and emergency housing (i.e. hotel accommodations). Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine the amount of assistance a veteran and/or their eligible dependents would be able to receive. Additional information on the program is available here: https://veterans.nebraska.gov/nva . Veterans should apply for NVA through their County Veteran Service Officer.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has put together a list of disaster relief resources for Nebraska farmers and ranchers seeking assistance due to severe weather. This list includes information about NDA’s Hay and Forage Hotline and programs from the Farm Service Agency. For information go to: www.nda.nebraska.gov/resources.

Energy (Power & Fuel): Cooper Nuclear Station is operating at full power. Officials are placing sandbags in critical locations in preparation for rising water levels. The station has declared a notice of unusual event, but there is no risk to public safety. Officials will continue to monitor the situation.

Communications: The radio tower at Verdigre remains inaccessible; however, the Nebraska State Patrol and other radio operators are able to use cellphones for communications.

Transportation: Interstate 80 is now open; however, road conditions remain dangerous across the state.

Governor Pete Ricketts has issued an executive order temporarily waiving overweight limits to help speed disaster relief response times. A copy of the executive order can be found by clicking here.

Information on road closures can be found on the Nebraska 511 map at https://www.511.nebraska.gov. Nebraska 511 provides the most up-to-date travel conditions. Nebraska 511 can be accessed through the 511 smartphone app or by dialing 511.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Highway Helpline is available 24-hours-a-day for motorists in need of assistance. Drivers can reach NSP by dialing *55 from any cell phone or 911 in an emergency.</s>Governor Pete Ricketts and other state officials gave updates on current conditions and resources available for those effected by the blizzard or flooding.

Rickets underscored the seriousness of the weather damage. “This is probably a historical event in Nebraska, with regard to the severe weather.” The Governor added that it has been the worst calving season in memory for ranchers.

3 people are missing, one dam and one bridge destroyed, and numerous roads damaged throughout Nebraska. Rickets told reporters Thursday that the public can help in one major way, “do not travel, in the panhandle, all of the state maintained roads, are closed.”

Nebraska Emergency Management Spokesman Brian Tuma said the weather emergency is all over the state. “We are up to 23 county declarations, and 19 city declarations of emergency, effected by the blizzard and the flooding.”

Tuma added that the flooding is far from over. “We have snow melting, moisture will continue to be entering our waterways, the flooding is not over.”

Major General Daryl Bohac with the National Guard said Guard personnel have been helping with two evacuation operations, “one in Norfolk, and now one in Genoa with high wheeled vehicles along with soldiers to transport those isolated and medically compromised.” Bohac added the Guard is standing by with helicopters in case rapid evacuation is needed.

State Transportation Department Director Kyle Schneweis said their crews have been working long hours to keep roads open. “We have 600 trucks and about 1000 people trying to fight this storm.” Schneweis added there has been significant resources used to aid in any way needed.

State Patrol Colonel John Bolduc said he is amazed about the amount of service calls the Patrol has handled. Only 200 calls for service and 12 accidents during the current blizzard. “What makes that remarkable, is compared to the blizzard a few weeks ago, over 300 accidents and that was a small blizzard. What that tells us is that Nebraskans are using common sense.”

The message talked about the most was the importance of not travelling.

READ MORE: FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY: Residents From Near Schuyler To Ashland Impacted, LFR’s Water Rescue Team Deployed</s>People across western Nebraska continue to dig out after Wednesday’s blizzard, but the Nebraska Department of Transportation says all highways in the Panhandle are now open for drivers.

Chris Ford with NDOT District 5 in Gering says around 1:30 p.m., all highways in the Panhandle were open for travel.

Roads may still be slick, and drivers are encouraged to exercise caution.

Additionally, in town many side streets are still undriveable. There are multiple reports of vehicles still getting stuck on non-emergency snow routes and are being forced to abandoned their vehicles.

Local city crews are continuing their efforts to clear roads, and patience from the public is requested.</s>Brief snow from Illinois to Maryland

Eastern Nebraska continues to deal with record-breaking river flooding this weekend due to rapid snow melt, ice jams and last week's rainfall.The flooding has caused parts of highways, including some bridges, to be washed away, isolating some communities.The scale of the devastation near Niobrara, Nebraska, is unprecedented as the swollen Niobrara River washed away a dam.Nebraska Emergency Management confirmed to ABC News that two people have died due to flooding.On Saturday, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts tweeted an aerial video of the devastation, which showed trees, roads and structures underwater.The Platte River, near Louisville, Nebraska, has crested, breaking a record that stood since 1960. The Platte River, near Ashland, broke its record from 1997, and the Elkhorn River, near Waterloo, swelled over 17 feet in the last five days to break a record from 1962 on Saturday.There are several other rivers in parts of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin that have risen into flood stage, including rivers near Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Rockford, Illinois.The American Red Cross is operating 22 shelters across the state, and the Nebraska National Guard had undertaken 111 operations as of Sunday morning, according to authorities.There are widespread flood alerts in the Central Plains and Midwest for river flooding. The good news is there is no notable precipitation coming to the region through the week.Nearly the entire country remains quiet in terms of weather, but there is a compact, quick-moving disturbance moving through parts of Illinois and Indiana on Sunday morning. This disturbance will struggle to draw in much moisture, but as it slides off toward the Mid-Atlantic it could drop a quick period of snow from Illinois to Maryland.Some of the moisture will be in parts of Ohio and Kentucky by Sunday night before reaching parts of the Washington, D.C., metro area on Monday morning.Accumulation will not be significant, however, the system could cause a few slippery spots over the next 24 to 36 hours in the region.High pressure remains firmly in control over much of the U.S. this weekend and will persist for a couple more days. Storms traversing the Pacific will be forced into southern Canada until the high pressure systems dominating the West finally ease up.The result of this is fairly mild weather across much of the country, including a good deal of sunshine.Much of the West will see a gradual increase in temperatures the next few days, with some of the most comfortable weather in months for the region.It looks like the high pressure will begin to ease around midweek, which would allow the next storm to move onto the West Coast, and eventually bring some effects to the central and eastern U.S.
Flooding over large portions of Nebraska leave one dead and two missing with over 900 people using emergency shelters. Many roads and highways in the state are also closed.