May 30
The storms of May 29 followed by subsequent flooding have caused damage across the state of Nebraska. FEMA is currently investigating damage reports in 40 counties. Lutheran Disaster Response, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, as well as orphan Grain Train have quickly responded. 

Rev. Roger Kruger of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska who serves as Disaster Response Coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response along with Patty Stradley, a LDR volunteer coordinator, have assessed the damage and reported the following:

• The tornados in Kearney did some damage to both Holy Cross and Zion Lutheran Church. Many individuals sustained roof damage and downed trees. Due to loss of electricity, many also lost food stored in freezers. As of this writing, two industrial plants northeast of town, which are major employers, are still without power, and employees are unable to earn paychecks.
• There was substantial flooding in Cozad and Lexington, and several apartment buildings were evacuated. In Cozad, the evacuees lost both food and clothing to the floodwaters.
• A large number of irrigation pivots were destroyed in the Aurora area.
• Flooding in Schuyler has resulted in 7 or 8 homes being condemned.
• High winds and possible tornados destroyed as many as 6 homes in Gage and Jefferson counties, and 40 received significant damage. Many of the latter are farm homes scattered throughout the area. The loss of outbuildings and machinery has completely shut down many of these farming operations.
• Platte Center was evacuated for a period of time, but the flood waters have now subsided.
• A large number of farmers are experiencing difficulty either because they have not yet been able to plant because of wet weather and debris in the fields, or because the storms have destroyed what had been planted.

Orphan Grain Train is preparing to ship a trailer loaded with washers and dryers and furniture to meet the needs of flood and tornado victims.

The need for a Sudanese translator in Lexington was supplied through Rev. John Deang.

Lutheran Family Services is investigating how to expedite counseling for stressed farmers and ranchers.

The ability to provide vouchers may ultimately be the best way to meet many of these needs. In order to make this possible, monetary gifts may be sent to

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska
Attn: Disaster Response
124 South 24th Street, Suite 230
Omaha, NE 68102

More information on response efforts will be passed along as it becomes available.

June 2
Reports of damage continue to come in from other parts of the state. The communities of Chester and Hubbell appeared to be in the line of these storms, but were spared the full force of the storm. According to Pastor Brad Boyer, pastor at St. John, Chester, and Zion, Hubbell, Chester received between two and three inches of rain, and strong winds or a tornado came close enough to the south side of Hubbell to push several bins at the elevator around and ruin them beyond repair.

One member of Zion, Hubbell had a camper turned over and pierced by a concrete retaining wall, probably totaling it. Another member had two tractors with attached planters out in the fields hit, and all four implements are probably totaled. Several of the Zion and St John members were either firemen and first responders who were warning people of the tornado, or trained storm chasers updating the authorities on the size, scope, and direction of the storm.

Other damage in the community included two farm houses south of Chester and one northeast of Hubbell that were total losses in the storm, with another one south of Chester receiving extensive damage to outbuildings. In Hubbell, one house received extensive damage (garage, siding torn off, windows sucked out, followed by belongings) and another minor damage (one shed damaged, some windows broken). Clean-up efforts in the communities are underway as the continuing intermittent rain allows.

If your community had damage from the storm and you have not yet been contacted by Rev. Roger Kruger or a representative from Lutheran Disaster Response, you may email him your update at rkruger@lfsneb.org.