If you are still feeling the impacts of the storm that hit Omaha this weekend, you are not alone. According to Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) more than 5,000 customers were still without power this morning.
And the City of Omaha and Douglas County declared disasters following the weekend storm, making them eligible to request assistance from the State of Nebraska via the Governor’s Emergency Fund.
Since the storm, OPPD, community members and government organizations have been working to restore power and connect residents with food, debris removal and other much-needed resources. El Perico created an extensive list of resources offered by the community and the government to help in the wake of the storm:
If you are still without power…
OPPD encourages residents who still have now power to report their outage as soon as possible. To report your power outage, call 1-800-554-6773 or visit OPPD.com and click on Report Outage.
As its likely that perishable food has spoiled in your home, the Douglas County Health Department has some tips for making sure the food you eat is safe.
“To be absolutely sure you are safe, the best practice is when in doubt, throw it out,” said Dr. Lindsay Huse, director of the Douglas County Health Department. “Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two or more hours, and any food that has an unusual smell, look or feel.”
Replacing spoiled food purchased on SNAP benefits
If you qualify for SNAP benefits, which help low-income residents buy food, you can apply for replacement benefits to replace food that spoiled in the power outages over the weekend, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
To replace your benefits, call the ACCESSNebraska Economic Assistance hotline at 800-383-4278. DHHS requires households to provide a signed statement verifying food loss, which must be received within 10 days of the date of the report.
Where can I access food?
- The pantry at Together Inc., 812 S. 24th St., is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No documentation is necessary. Call (402) 345-8047 for more information.
- Heartland Hope Mission staff will distribute free food at their South O Pantry, located at 2021 U. St., to residents in efforts to replace food that went bad in the storm. The pantry is open on Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call 401-733-1904 with any questions. The organization has already helped about 156 families, almost 500 individuals, access food on Tuesday, according to a staff member.
- The Salvation Army of Omaha is providing free food boxes at the Burrows Center of Health and Hope, 6101 NW Radial Hwy. All are welcome to visit the food pantry from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to posts on their social media. The organization also continues to run its Kids Cruisin’ Kitchen program, which provides hot, nutritious lunches to children and families. Families can call 402-898-6090 with any questions.
- The Intercultural Senior Center, 5545 Center St., continues to provide individuals older than 50 essentials through their food pantry and food delivery. Call 402-444-6529 during their business hours Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to access food.
- You can also get help by calling 211, the 24/7 helpline resource run by United Way of the Midlands, to connect with food pantries and meals. To get help navigating resources, call 2-1-1 or 402-444-6666, or text your zip code to 898211. Residents can also email nebraska211@uwmidlands.org for assistance.
- See here for the City of Omaha’s list of resources.
Tree and debris removal information
Emergency curbside debris removal for smaller and larger debris continues, with specific requests for how to collect smaller debris highlighted on the city’s website.
Four public debris sites remain open through Friday, July 23, for residents who are able to drop off collections of debris from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Hefflinger Park, at 112th & Maple
- Ta-Ha Zouka Park, at 905 Elkhorn Dr. Elkhorn, NE 68022
- Al Veys Field, at 65th & Harrison
- Levi Carter Park, at 809 Carter Lake Shore Dr.
The Mayor’s Hotline is a resource for residents to request services and report issues to the city. Call 402-444-5555 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or email hotline@cityofomaha.org to get in touch with a hotline employee.
Other helpful resources:
Check out the extensive list of resources built by NOISE Omaha, a community-led news organization.
For individuals without WiFi or Internet connection, Omaha Public Libraries are open to the public to utilize. Find a location close to you on their website.