Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has approved a state disaster declaration because of the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that swept through parts of eastern Nebraska over the weekend.

Yesterday, Heineman toured Beaver Crossing, Sutton and other communities hit hard by the storms and said what he saw in person and what he heard from responders and volunteers on the ground made the disaster declaration an easy decision.

He says it allows the state to begin providing necessary assistance as the affected communities begin the process of putting their lives back together after a natural disaster.

The declaration lets state personnel assist with emergency situations and allows maximum flexibility in deploying Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency NEMA resources.