Lt Governor Lavon Heidemann and Al Berndt, head of NEMA…Nebraska Emergency Management Agency… visited Chadron, Crawford, and Harrison today to get a first hand look at damage from the weekend blizzard.

Heidemann…a rancher from southeast Nebraska…said he and Governor Dave Heineman, who visited Norfolk on Sunday to survey damage from a major tornado that also hit on Friday, felt it was important to see for themselves what things were like.

The Lt Governor and Berndt met with local officials at all 3 stops, then met with the public as well for question and answer periods. The information they have isn’t that encouraging when it comes to assistance. Berndt said the type of damage…trees and dead livestock…don’t fit into any major programs.

Berndt says there is a possibility of low-interest Small Business Administration loans for ranchers and businesses, but he’s not certain about that.

Both he and Heidemann were impressed with the cleanup efforts already underway in Chadron. Heideman thinks it says a lot about the local residents and their Nebraska attitude.

“One of the things that we’ve already noticed is the community coming together and starting to take care of the problems themselves. That’s the true Nebraska Spirit.”

Chadron Mayor Karin Fischer feels the same. “Our community just really rises to the occasion and they did shine. City employees, neighbor helping neighbor, some churches helped, and that’s what a small community is all about and we excel at that.”