Nebraska Devastated by Multiple Extreme Weather Events

By Lauren Taylor, guest writer, former EESI intern, University of Nebraska-Lincoln student

In Nebraska, they say that if you don’t like the weather in the morning, all you have to do is wait until the afternoon to experience an entirely different season. The midwestern state frequently experiences rapidly fluctuating weather conditions and is prone to extreme weather events like tornadoes and flash floods. However, the “bomb cyclone” that swept through the Midwest in March reached a magnitude never before seen in the state, resulting in unprecedented flooding that has caused more than $1 billion in damages and crippled state infrastructure and industry. Among those most seriously affected are rural farm communities across the state and military operations at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha.

With monikers like "The Beef State" and "The Cornhusker State," it is no secret that Nebraska is dominated by the agriculture industry. More than 90 percent of the state’s total land area is comprised of farms and ranches. Agriculture makes up more than one-fourth of Nebraska’s economy. These farms and ranches transport livestock and crops primarily by highway, many of which were rendered impassible, due to flooding.

Not only were rural farm communities left without access to supplies and markets because of damage to roads and bridges, families’ livelihoods were put on hold as many herds of cattle were almost completely wiped out, fields of crops were obliterated, and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.

The damage to state infrastructure has been daunting. At the peak of the flooding, more than 1,500 miles of highway were closed and 74 of the state’s 93 counties, along with four tribal areas, had declared emergencies. Governor Pete Ricketts described the damage as the most widespread in Nebraska’s history. However, the devastating effects of the bomb cyclone extend beyond the borders of the Cornhusker state. Consumers across the nation will be impacted by higher prices for food in the near future, especially beef and pork products.

In addition to the devastation faced by farming and ranching communities, the flood has taken its toll on military operations at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha. Critical for our national security, the base is home to the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Strategic Command, which plays a central role in detecting and responding to global threats. Although the Strategic Command headquarters itself did not suffer any flooding, the severe damage to the rest of the base prompted renewed dialogue about the threats that climate change poses to national security.

Less than four days after the flooding began, one-third of the base was inundated, including two major aircraft maintenance facilities and 3,000 feet of the base’s 11,700-foot runway. Thankfully, no one was injured, but at least 1,600 workers were relocated to other buildings and remaining staff scrambled to save vital equipment, munitions, and aircraft. Six military and civilian personnel were awarded honors for their efforts in moving equipment, likely preventing millions of dollars in damage.

The Department of Defense has reaffirmed its commitment to pursing resilient infrastructure, and legislation requiring military facilities across the country to prepare for potentially extreme weather was introduced by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense.

The flooding in Nebraska and across the Midwest serves as a reminder that extreme weather events resulting from a changing climate are not limited to coastal regions. Natural disasters are occurring in the heartland, and the consequences have been catastrophic. While the floodwaters have now receded, the road to rebuilding will be a long one. Even a month after the initial storm, many Nebraskans remained without homes and adequate resources. But the resilience of the Cornhusker state has been unmatched in this critical time. Governor Ricketts said it best when he declared that “as Nebraskans always have, we’ll get through this together. Everyone in Nebraska is pulling together.”

Learn more about EESI's efforts to promote common-sense climate resilience across our country and about how our military facilities and surrounding communities need to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. EESI will continue to explore these topics, so please subscribe to our emails to stay informed about upcoming events and publications.

Author: Lauren Taylor