
Dallas Nau, Central Nebraska Today
GRAND ISLAND – In the aftermath of the torrential rain Wednesday night and early Thursday, Mayor Roger Steele has issued a Disaster Declaration.
City of Grand Island Communications Manager Spencer Schubert said Thursday that the mayor made the declaration so that the city can access funds from various sources.
Schubert urged Grand Island residents not to drive on streets in northwest Grand Island with water in them, because they might get stuck. Emergency responders do not need additional work to help those motorists.
Schubert said that the bulk of the rain fell between 11 p.m. and midnight Wednesday, with more coming in the next hour. He said that 6 inches of the 7 inches that fell came between 11 p.m. and midnight.
“It came hard and heavy really fast,” Schubert said.
Problems resulting from the rain are focused in northwest Grand Island. In south Grand Island south of Barr Middle School and Stoley Park Road, there was not flooding as compared to the flooding that occurred in 2005. The Wood River Flood Control project ditch just north of Hall County Park was dry Thursday morning.
Residents whose homes were affected by the flooding may self-report the damage by going to: report-ne-hall.orioncentral.com
Businesses along north Webb Road and on Capital Avenue west to just past Highway 281, then heading south on Diers Avenue, were affected the most, Schubert said.
Schubert said that dozens of cars were stranded, but the total number is being assessed.