Emergency Update Noon Saturday:
- Mayor Jean Stothert will sign a disaster proclamation requesting state and federal aid and assistance
- A free tree and limb debris drop-off location is now open at 209th and Park Drive in the North Parking lot of Greenbrier Park. Open hours are from 9:00am to 7:00pm daily until further notice. Only tree and vegetation debris from the storm will be accepted. Hired contractors are not allowed. Please enter from Park Drive from the North and exit the dump heading South via 209th St
- As of 2 p.m. OPD has restored power to 62% of customers impacted. More than 4,100 customers remain without power, down from peak of about 10,200 outages. The four regions hit hardest were the Elkhorn, Bennington, and Blair areas, as well as around Eppley Airfield.
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The Salvation Army is staffing a drop-off site at Brite Ideas, near 156th and Blondo, for water, nonperishable goods and other donations.
Emergency Update 8:00 am Saturday:
- Omaha Fire has completed a search of the damaged homes. Fortunately, no deaths are reported, and very few minor injuries.
- Common Ground Community Center at 1701 Veterans Drive is open for anyone who needs shelter.
- Please report property damage to 211 or online at DOGIS.ORG/211. To make a report.
- Pheasant Point Landfill will be open 6AM until 3PM Saturday for debris disposal. Green debris limbs must be cut into piece four feet or smaller. Home appliances and hazardous materials are NOT accepted.
- Power restoration is still in progress by OPPD.
- Eppley Airfield has reopened for aircraft operations but delays are expected. The passenger terminal was not impacted by the storm. Damage assessments in other portions of the airport continue.
- Funds to assist impacted families are set up through the OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, and the UNITED WAY AT 211.
- A multi-agency news conference will begin at 3 pm this afternoon to provide updates. A live stream will be available at www.facebook.com/
douglascountyne
If you told Stacy Gillman back in high school that she would be a stormwater and floodplain specialist, she would have said you were ‘crazy.’
“I hated science in high school, and I hated math,” said Gillman.
However, it was her love of the outdoors that inspired her to pursue science in college.
“My background is in geology and geography. Just seeing how our ecosystem, atmosphere and climate continue to change, I just love studying it,” said Gillman.
After growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and graduating from Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Gillman’s career path eventually led her to Douglas County Environmental Services, where she has worked for the past seven years as a stormwater and floodplain specialist.
“I manage the county’s phase two stormwater permit which comes with several components that we implement and have to update,” said Gillman.
Among those components are public education outreach, public participation, assessing construction site runoff, post-construction runoff control, pollution prevention, and good housekeeping.
“Our stormwater program is an effort to preserve and improve our community’s water resources and protect these resources from pollution and stormwater runoff that is generated from construction sites and other activities,” said Gillman.
Understanding those efforts and their significance couldn’t be more important to Gillman, who recently received her CFM or certified floodplain manager certification.
“The CFM is a uniform exam that is administered across the country, and it evaluates you on how well you know the National Flood Insurance Program, regulatory standards, community guidelines, flood insurance policies and your ability to comply with floodplain regulations,” said Gillman.
That knowledge and skillset were put to the test during the spring floods of 2019 which presented its own unique set of challenges for Gillman.
“I did some damage estimates of homes and properties that were destroyed by the floodwaters. If you haven’t been in that situation, you will never truly understand. Some floodplain regulations say you can’t rebuild, so how do you tell somebody that when they have nowhere else to go?” Gillman said.
Those moments speak to the importance of the work Gillman and her team do here in Douglas County.
“The most rewarding part of my job is going out and talking to people, getting to know them, helping them understand their flood insurance policies, guidelines, and regulatory standards. We can all make a difference in our community when we listen to each other,” said Gillman.
A career in science may not have been on her radar as a student, but Gillman is so glad her career path in environmental services led her to such a key role within local government.
“I love my job. I have a lot of support from my co-workers and the means of getting answers and important information when I need it. I love working here in Douglas County.”
Every year during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community, are honored. It's an opportunity to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public.
Our Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications team answers more than 600,000 calls a year. Of those calls, more than 90% are answered within 10 seconds or less. We are so proud to celebrate the incredible work of our amazing 911 team members.
Routine monthly siren testing will occur on the first Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. throughout the severe weather season. The first routine monthly siren test for the 2024 season will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
Each monthly siren test will consist of a single sounding. Routine monthly testing of the Outdoor Warning Siren System will also occur at
11 a.m. on April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4 and October 2, 2024.
Testing of sirens is on a weather-permitting basis and will not be performed if threatening weather exists. It should be noted that testing and sounding of individual sirens will be conducted to prepare for the upcoming severe weather season. Sirens may also be heard periodically throughout the spring and summer on an as-needed basis as part of general maintenance activities.
Rondy Woodard, a longtime employee of Douglas County, was recently named Superintendent of the Douglas County Youth Center.
Woodard, who has dedicated over 33 years to helping youth in Douglas County, served as the interim Superintendent of the Youth Center since November 2023.
“Rondy's exceptional leadership, knowledge of juvenile detention, and his commitment to the youth who the county serves made him the best candidate for this role,” said Patrick Bloomingdale, Douglas County Chief Administrative Officer.
Woodard was only 22 when he started working at the Youth Center as a temporary employee. It wasn’t long before he became a full-time youth detention specialist.
His ability to empathize with youth and understand their challenges and struggles helped him earn promotions to youth detention supervisor, deputy detention manager, and detention manager throughout his career.
“It has always been about the kids. That’s why I have stayed here so long,” Woodard said. “There’s no better feeling than seeing these kids when they grow up and they remember the positive messages I told them when they were at the Youth Center.”
Woodard said he reminds youth daily of two things: “It’s always one decision at a time, and don’t let your short-term emotions have long-term consequences.”
On Jan. 26, 2024, Douglas County and the City of Omaha recognized employees with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Aspire to Inspire awards. One community member was also honored at the event.
For several years, these awards have been presented to employees and community members who emulated Dr. King’s vision of diversity, inclusivity, and equality. A committee of County and City representatives reviewed nominations and selected the following award recipients:
Douglas County’s recipient is Marisa Hattab, Douglas County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. Her nominator said, “Marisa has made many employees of Douglas County feel like they have a voice. She listens to employees feeling stuck or stagnant and gives them valuable tools to find ways to change it. She echoes Dr. King’s sentiments.”
The City of Omaha’s recipient is Bridget Hadley, Economic Development Manager for the City Planning Department. Her nominator said, “I have only known Bridget for a few years, but in that time, she has been someone I find I can consistently look up to as an example of how to put one’s principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, unity, and diligence into their professional life. Bridget is super smart, patient, accepting of others, and passionate about her job and how it plays a role in creating a brighter future for Omaha and its diverse communities.”
The Community recipient is Itzel Lopez, CEO and Co-Founder of the Latino Economic Development Council. Her nominator said, “Itzel Lopez's journey is nothing short of inspirational, marked by her unwavering dedication to community service and economic development. She has played a pivotal role in fostering opportunities for the Latino community. Her success is not just personal; it's a testament to the transformative power of dedicated volunteerism and community engagement.”