ACEC/Nebraska Member Firms Pitch In To Help Combat Record Floodwaters

ACEC News / Member Firms / Member Organizations

March 18, 2019

ACEC/Nebraska Member Firms Pitch In To Help Combat Record Floodwaters

With Omaha Public Works employees filling sandbags around the clock this weekend to protect the city’s wastewater treatment plant from being overrun by record floodwaters on the Missouri River, ACEC/Nebraska Member Firms pulled together to provide a hot meal and other assistance.

“I received a request for help from one of the city engineers on Saturday night and sent out an email to our firms,” said ACEC/NE Executive Director Jeanne McClure. “By Sunday morning, we had enough volunteers to bring chili and cinnamon rolls to serve more than 70 workers. Firms also donated cookies, brownies, granola bars, chips, water, soda and Gatorade. The firm members who delivered the food then stayed to help serve and clean up, as well as fill sandbags.”

ACEC/NE is arranging for hot lunches and evening meals to be delivered to the workers for the rest of the week.

Heavy rain falling on frozen ground and snowmelt have led to record-high water levels at many locations along the Missouri River. Several hundred people in Nebraska were forced out of their homes by the rising water, many towns are have become islands, and others are without water supply.

“Countless bridges and roads in our state have been destroyed,” McClure said. “ACEC/NE is taking consultant questions and will work with the Nebraska DOT to host a briefing on Tuesday afternoon.”

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