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A week after flood, Omaha residents continue clean up, seek aid

Homeowners in Omaha’s Karen neighborhood are continuing to clean up and seek support one week after flooding caused significant damage to the area.

At Karen Western Elementary School, the Salvation Army is distributing $250 gift cards to neighborhood residents who can prove they live in the area.

Jerry Asmussen, who has lived in the Karen Addition neighborhood for 17 years, said the flooding late last Wednesday night and Thursday morning caused a “total loss” in his home, where he had been working on an addition.

Now, he is focused on recovering what he lost.

“I’ve kind of got a smile on my face right now, but it’s been rough. Really rough,” Asmussen said.

The Little Papio Creek runs behind Asmussen's backyard. Along with much of his home, it claimed three cars belonging to his family.

While he currently has electricity, Asmussen said he does not have gas service. The crawlspace where the furnace is located is filled with mud.

"Right now it’s nice out, but if it’s, if FEMA takes a while for the disaster or whatever, then I’m going to be, I don’t know how long it’s going to take,” he said.

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency Assistant Director Erv Portis told KETV the agency is working with FEMA and the Small Business Administration to determine what assistance might be available to Nebraskans impacted by last week's flash flood. He said there's a very high bar for individual assistance.

City Councilmember Ron Hug said about 150 homes in the Karen neighborhood were impacted by the flooding.

If Asmussen can't find any assistance, he'd “basically turn it over to God," he said. "With me... the glass is half full. Even though there’s a major disaster here, I think something will. If not, we just deal with it. You know, that’s the way I was raised,” Asmussen said.

MORE COVERAGE: Omaha mayor says 100-year storm brought 5 to 6 inches of rain and dozens of rescues

The city is encouraging residents affected by the flood to call United Way’s 211 hotline to connect with assistance programs and help the city assess the extent of the damage.

The City of Omaha encourages those impacted to call United Way's 211 hotline for help connecting with resources and to help the city obtain a count of those who sustained damage.

See the city's flash flooding resources page here.

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