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Floor Speech
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Mr. RICKETTS. Mr. President, my home State of Nebraska is currently experiencing a natural disaster of unprecedented proportions for our State. We are experiencing the largest wildfires since Nebraska became a State. It started last week. We have a number of fires burning across the State that have burned up to 750,000 acres of Nebraska. That is over 1 percent, approaching 2 percent of the total land area of my State.
We have had one fatality. Rose Mary White, a grandmother of 12, died at her ranch near Arthur, NE. We have also had hundreds, if not thousands, of people impacted by these fires.
I ask all Nebraskans and all Americans to pray for the victims of these terrible fires.
I had the opportunity, with Governor Pillen and Congressman Smith, to tour the areas that were burning on Saturday.
Thank you to all of the firefighters, our volunteer firefighters who are first responders on the scene, who worked tirelessly to be able to control this fire.
By the time we arrived on Saturday, they had had little sleep over the past several days and were exhausted. At 6 o'clock that night, a Federal firefighter team came in to provide relief, and I thank those firefighters as well.
Thank you to our Nebraska National Guardsmen. We have two Black Hawk helicopters with Bambi baskets that are on site helping to control the fire by dumping water on it from the air. I thank Iowa as well because they have also loaned us two helicopters to be able to help out. The Governor was calling the fire departments of Omaha and Lincoln and Columbus, seeking to get additional firefighter help to be able to relieve the volunteers that are working so hard around the clock.
Nebraska is a great place. We have great community spirit. We saw it on full display as people pitched in to be able to help combat these fires. But we have a lot of work to be able to do.
The Morrill fire has burned over 572,000 acres and is only 18 percent contained. The Cottonwood fire has burned over 131,000 acres, and it is only 40 percent contained. The Road 203 fire has burned 35,000 acres, and it is 36 percent contained. And the Anderson Bridge fire has burned 17,000 acres and is only 60 percent contained.
I know that Nebraskans will continue to work hard to preserve life and property and take care of their neighbors during this time. We are no stranger to disasters. Nebraskans always pitch in to be able to help.
I do want to say to my fellow Nebraskans that if you get the evacuation order, be prepared because this fire has moved fast. We got some relief from the winds on Sunday, but they kicked up again on Monday. Those winds can drive that fire very, very fast. So be prepared to evacuate. Please don't stay. If you stay too long, you are putting yourself and the firefighters at risk who are trying to put out this fire and protect you. And when it is safe, please make sure you are documenting the damage that you have incurred.
The USDA Farm Service Agency has Disaster Assistance Programs. After you are safe and you have had a chance to document your damage, you can go to them to see what sort of programs are out there. The Nebraska Cattlemen, nebraskacattlemen.org, has the ability for people to donate to be able to help out those impacted by this fire, so do the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
In talking with our ag director Sherry Vinton, over 30,000 cattle may be displaced because of this fire. And certainly, there will be cattle losses because of it. We just don't know the magnitude yet. It has been very dry this winter in Nebraska, and this fire has burned out of control. But we have many brave Nebraskans--volunteers, firefighters, the National Guard--who are working to be able to get this fire under control.
As a Federal delegation, we will continue to support the local efforts and the State's efforts to control this fire and to help those impacted recover. And again, I ask for the prayers of Nebraskans and all Americans to be able to help us out in this terrible tragedy.
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