Metro flooding: Who's doing what and how can you help?
2019:
Our hearts are heavy as flood waters wreak havoc in Iowa and Nebraska. The destruction to land and homes along with the number of families displaced is overwhelming.But our community is doing what we do best. We rally and we support one another.
Immediate disaster response and evacuation were first and foremost for our nonprofit partners. They sprang to action to protect our neighbors. But as the weeks go by and the waters recede, our community will need us all to act.
Below is a list of who is doing what and how you can help. Please check back often, and if you are a nonprofit member with a volunteer or donation need, email us at info@SHAREomaha.org so we can help you post needs here and to your profile.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Food Bank for the Heartland needs volunteers to assist with the assembly of flood pantry packs, sign up here.
Habitat for Humanity continues to mobilize staff, partners and volunteers to aid with immediate clean-up efforts. Currently, they are coordinating volunteers for Team Rubicon, Sarpy County Multi Agency Resource Center, Heartland Hope Mission and Omaha Rapid Response. Sign up to volunteer now.
Omaha Rapid Response is assisting relief efforts in King Lake and Pacific Junction. Sign up to volunteer now.
Open Door Mission needs help sorting and organizing donation items. Please submit your interest to volunteer now.
United Way of the Midlands and AmeriCorps are organizing flood volunteers. See needs here and sign up to volunteer.
- United Way of the Midland's coordinates Omaha Rapid Response volunteers here.
- United Way of the Midland's coordinates Team Rubicon volunteers here.
- United Way of the Midland's coordinates Hamburg volunteers here.
- United Way of the Midland's coordinates Heartland Hope Mission volunteers here.
- United Way of the Midland's coordinates Fremont bulk distribution warehouse volunteers here.
- United Way of the Midland's coordinates Fremont bulk distribution - day hours volunteers here.
DONATION ITEMS NEEDED
Nebraska Humane Society is working to help animals who have been ravaged by flooding. If you would like to make a difference for these animals please see their wish list and send a few items. Please be sure to add your contact info to the gift message so that they may thank you.
Open Door Mission is accepting the following flood relief items at 1612 Avenue D in Council Bluffs and 1620 N 203rd Street in Elkhorn:
- Food (canned fruit, soup and meat, spaghetti and sauce, boxed meals)
- Baby items (cribs and bedding, car seats and strollers)
- Household items (dishes, pots and pans, small appliances, lamps)
- Appliances (washers and dryers, refrigerators and stoves)
- Clothing (mens, womens and childrens)
- Linens (bedding, blankets and towels)
- Personal care items (deodorant, shampoo and condition, razors and shaving cream)
- Gas cards
- Furniture and appliances
- Linens (sheets, towels, etc)
- Pots, pans, cooking utensils and dishes
MONETARY DONATIONS NEEDED
ESU #3 - Gifford Farm Education Center evacuated their farm, animals and staff after dams broke. They will need monetary support for their recovery efforts. Please send donations to Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Road, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005, ATTN: Flood Donation
Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity needs your help. As Fremont begins to pick up the pieces from recent historic flooding, Habitat will continue construction on current Habitat Homes as well as coordinate flood relief volunteers. To financially support their efforts, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”.
Food Bank for the Heartland has a three phase flood disaster response and recovery plan. To help fund this plan in support of Iowa/Nebraska communities, please donate now and use the donation code “FLOOD”.
Heartland Hope Mission is helping families who are displaced by the flood with a week's supply of food, hygiene items, clothing and services. Any family can receive help regardless of income. To support this effort, please donate now using donation code “FLOOD”.
Heartland REACT is assisting with flood relief effort tasks including sand bagging, traffic control, and setting up emergency shelters. As Heartland REACT relies solely on public donations, your monetary donation is incredibly important. Please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”.
The Hope Center for Kids is raising money for the families of the Nebraska floods. All funds will be used to benefit the victims in affected communities. Several of the member families at The Hope Center for Kids in Fremont have been affected by this historic flooding - many losing their homes and currently displaced in shelters. Please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD” to designate giving.
Iowa Legal Aid is providing legal assistance to those affected by the recent flooding, including addressing landlord tenant issues, homeowner issues, insurance, accessing governmental assistance, contractor issues, replacing lost documents, etc. To support this effort, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD.”
Lift Up Sarpy County is assisting with emergency flood response. To assist efforts, donate now using donation code "FLOOD". A detailed list of needs is also available on their website.
The Omaha Community Foundation has designated funds for counties affected, including Fremont and Mills Counties in Iowa. If you would like to donate to a specific county in need, donate here.
Omaha Rapid Response is coordinating volunteer and donation items To financially support their effort, please donate now and use donation code "FLOOD".
Open Door Mission is serving our neediest neighbors with flood relief. To support this effort, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”.
The Salvation Army has a designated fund to help those impacted by the floods. Donate here now.
United Way of the Midlands' Nebraska/Iowa Flood Relief Fund will direct 100% of every donation to meeting needs for emergency shelter, food and more. Donors will have the opportunity to direct their gift to a specific community within Nebraska or Iowa if they so wish. You can text FLOODRELIEF (all caps, no space) to 41444 or donate here now.
Valley Days Foundation leads flood relief efforts in Valley and surrounding areas. They have a distribution center and provide residents with building materials, volunteer assistance and numerous other much needed supplies they need to rebuild their lives. To support this effort, please donate now and use donation code "FLOOD".
Below are updates from our nonprofit partners, as we received them.
UPDATE: 9/20/19 at 12 PM
Omaha Rapid Response has had almost 3,000 volunteers from 22 states assist with flood relief so far, but hundreds more are needed over the next two months to return flood victims to their homes (60 families in King Lake and 90 in Pacific Junction). Sign up to volunteer here.
UPDATE: 7/26/19 at 12 PM
The Salvation Army is requesting the following items be delivered to 2014 290th Avenue, Sidney, Iowa 51652, for Fremont County, Iowa flood relief:
- Gas cards
- Furniture and appliances
- Linens (sheets, towels, etc)
- Pots, pans, cooking utensils and dishes
UPDATE: 7/19/19 at 12 PM
Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is recruiting volunteers for Percival's clean up days. Sign up now to help on July 26th and July 27th.
UPDATE: 6/4/19 at 12 PM
The Valley Days Foundation continues to lead flood relief efforts in Valley and surrounding areas. They have a distribution center and provide residents with building materials, volunteer assistance and numerous other much needed supplies they need to rebuild their lives. They are in great need of volunteers to assist with rebuilding and their biggest supply need is building materials such as plywood, drywall and flooring.
UPDATE: 4/12/19 at 10 AM
The Salvation Army needs continued donations of flood-relief items delivered to the Disaster Resource Centers at 715 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs and 8425 West Center Road in Omaha. They are especially in need of work gloves, rakes, shovels and N-95 masks.
UPDATE: 4/9/19 at 10:15 AM
Strength Behind the Blue is collecting new or gently used books for flood victims until April 30th. Books can be delivered to the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest or Southwest Precincts, or the OPD Headquarters.
UPDATE: 4/5/19 at 12 PM
Habitat for Humanity continues to mobilize staff, partners and volunteers to aid with immediate clean-up efforts. Currently, they are coordinating volunteers for Team Rubicon, Sarpy County Multi Agency Resource Center, Heartland Hope Mission and Omaha Rapid Response. Sign up to volunteer now.
United Way of the Midlands needs volunteers on April 5th and April 6th to help at a resource center in Valley, Nebraska. Help families impacted by flooding find services as a Flood Relief Ambassador or Bilingual Ambassador. There is also an opportunity as a Family Helper to play with and engage children so parents can focus on connecting with agencies and finding services. There are several shifts ranging from two to four hours available for each opportunity. Volunteers will be shuttled from St. Mark's Lutheran Church to the MARC location at Twin Rivers YMCA. Sign up to volunteer now.
Victory Riding Academy is collecting toys for kids affected by flooding. They are working with Emergency Management Teams to make sure all the donations go directly to the affected families, and they will take ponies to help deliver the toys. Toys can be delivered to the Health and Wellness Expo at Baxter Arena in Omaha this weekend, or contact info@victoryride.org to schedule an alternative drop off time.
UPDATE: 4/4/19 at 2:30 PM
Heartland Hope Mission needs help on Monday, April 15th from 10-11:30 AM to load donated clothing for flood victims. Apply to volunteer now.
UPDATE: 4/4/19 at 9 AM
The Salvation Army opened a disaster resource center at 715 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs.
The following items are needed:
- laundry detergent
- N-95 dust masks
- scoop shovels
- floor squeegees
- long rubber gloves
- wader boots
- personal hygiene products
- box fans
- bleach
- disinfectant
- paper towels
- 5-gallon buckets
- work gloves
- scrub brushes
- cleaning rags
- heavy duty trash bags
- first-aid kits
- school supplies
- new bedding, towels and washcloths
- new baby supplies
- snack items
- paper plates, disposable cups, napkins and plastic table service
UPDATE: 4/1/19 at 12:30 PM
Volunteers are needed on April 2 and April 3 to help muck out damaged homes and relocate a flood distribution center. Sign up for a shift with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.
UPDATE: 3/29/19 at 4 PM
Traffic to SHAREomaha.org has more than doubled as caring individuals, families and businesses are looking for a way to help. Presented with the needs of our nonprofits, you're donating to flood funds and delivering flood relief items. You're jumping in to action and volunteering with Omaha Rapid Response, Open Door Mission, Food Bank for the Heartland, Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army.
Your work does not go unnoticed. In fact, you caught John Knicely's attention. Last weekend, he joined Omaha Rapid Response at King's Lake to see the work of flood relief volunteers first hand, including dozens of SHARE Omaha volunteers. Watch his Knicely Done segment about Omaha Rapid Response and your help as volunteers.
UPDATE: 3/27/19 at 11:30 AM
Open Door Mission is serving our neediest neighbors with flood relief. To support this effort, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”. The following flood relief items are also accepted at 1612 Avenue D in Council Bluffs and 1620 N 203rd Street in Elkhorn:
- Food (canned fruit, soup and meat, spaghetti and sauce, boxed meals)
- Baby items (cribs and bedding, car seats and strollers)
- Household items (dishes, pots and pans, small appliances, lamps)
- Appliances (washers and dryers, refrigerators and stoves)
- Clothing (mens, womens and childrens)
- Linens (bedding, blankets and towels)
- Personal care items (deodorant, shampoo and condition, razors and shaving cream)
UPDATE: 3/26/19 at 10:15 AM
Food Bank for the Heartland has a three phase flood disaster response and recovery plan. To help fund this plan in support of Iowa/Nebraska communities, please donate now and use the donation code “FLOOD”.
Phase I: Support first responders with bottled water, cleaning supplies, personal items and snack food items such as granola bars, power bars.
Phase II: Systemic food distribution to impacted communities including 15-20 pound boxes of easy to prepare food.
Phase III: Pop-up mobile food pantries with local partners to distribute fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy, bakery, canned and dry goods.
Currently, Food Bank for the Heartland is in Phase I, working daily with Feeding America to source and transport needed water and food products to our area. Food Bank for the Heartland is assisting warehousing efforts in their facility and in off-site trailers. Over the weekend and into next week they will receive truckloads of water, snacks and cleaning supplies to redistribute to their partners.
Food Bank for the Heartland is ramping up for Phase II. This week and next week food products arrive from national partners for the assembly of pantry packs. BackPack product lines in the Volunteer Center will be converted to disaster pantry pack production later this week. They stockpiled enough BackPacks to ensure adequate supply for partner schools for the next several weeks. To volunteer to assist with the assemply of flood pantry packs, sign up here.
UPDATE: 3/25/19 at 1 PM
IOWA
Iowa Legal Aid is providing legal assistance to those affected by the recent flooding, including addressing landlord tenant issues, homeowner issues, insurance, accessing governmental assistance, contractor issues, replacing lost documents, etc. To support this effort, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD.”
Food Bank for the Heartland is involved with assessing community needs related to flood relief, along with The Red Cross and The Salvation Army. These efforts include Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills and Fremont Counties in Iowa. To help fund the logistics of distributing food and water into Iowa/Nebraska communities, please donate now and use the donation code “FLOOD”.
The Omaha Community Foundation has designated funds for counties affected, including Fremont and Mills Counties in Iowa. If you would like to donate to a specific county in need, donate here.
UPDATE: 3/23/19 at 1:30 PM
Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity needs your help. As Fremont begins to pick up the pieces from recent historic flooding, Habitat will continue construction on current Habitat Homes as well as coordinate flood relief volunteers. To financially support their efforts, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”.
The Omaha Community Foundation has designated funds for counties affected, including Fremont and Mills. If you would like to donate to a specific county in need, donate here.
The Salvation Army continues to see donations of flood-relief items which will be distributed to those in need. Please drop off items to the Salvation Army Disaster Resource Center at 8425 West Center Road in Omaha.
Items still needed include:
- Cleaning supplies
- Shovels
- Spray bottles
- Five gallon buckets
- Mops & brooms
- Face masks
- Large heavy duty garbage bags
- First Aid kits (pre-made)
- Floor squeegees
- Long rubber gloves
- Wading boots
- Box fans
- Laundry soap
- New bedding
- New bath towels
- New blankets (still in packaging)
- Brand-new undergarments
- Scrub brushes
- Bleach
- Disinfectant
- New wash clothes
- Paper towels
- Diapers
- Baby formula
- Snack items
UPDATE: 3/21/19 at 12:30 PM
Nebraska Humane Society is working to help animals who have been ravaged by flooding. If you would like to make a difference for these animals please see their wish list and send a few items. Please be sure to add your contact info to the gift message so that they may thank you.
Omaha Rapid Response is collecting bleach, gloves, rags, scrub brushes, rakes shovels and brooms. Donations may be delivered to Canfield's at 8425 West Center Road in Omaha or the Cherish You Boutique at 14445 F Street in Omaha. To give monetary support, please donate now and use donation code "FLOOD".
UPDATE: 3/19/19 at 4 PM
Millard Public Schools Foundation is collecting supplies for The Salvation Army. Specific items requested include: mops, buckets, work gloves, rakes, shovels, bleach and cleaning supplies. Please note, money and bottled water cannot be accepted. Please deliver to Don Stroh Administration Center, 5606 South 147th Street in Omaha on Wednesday, March 20th between 8am and 5pm.
UPDATE: 3/19/19 at 1:15 PM
Heartland Hope Mission is helping families who are displaced by the flood with a week's supply of food, hygiene items, clothing and services. Any family can receive help regardless of income. To support this effort, please donate now using donation code “FLOOD”.
Heartland REACT is assisting with flood relief effort tasks including sand bagging, traffic control, and setting up emergency shelters. As Heartland REACT relies solely on public donations, your monetary donation is incredibly important. Please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”.
Victory Riding Academy assisted with rescuing 24 horses from rising flood waters. To help provide for their care, please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD”. Today, Victory Riding Academy is assisting with two more stranded horses that were fed by airboat over the weekend.
UPDATE: 3/19/19 at 9:35 AM
Food Bank for the Heartland is involved with assessing community needs related to flood relief, along with The Red Cross and The Salvation Army. To help fund the logistics of distributing food and water into Iowa/Nebraska communities, please donate now and use the donation code “FLOOD”.
FITGirl, Inc's clothing bin at 15505 Ruggles Street in Omaha is available as a drop off location for clothing. All items collected before March 25th will be given to families displaced by the flooding.
Donations of food and water may be delivered to the Food Bank for the Heartland warehouse at 10525 J Street in Omaha. Volunteers are also needed to help assemble the food deliveries going out to ravaged areas. Please apply to volunteer now.
The Hope Center for Kids is raising money for the families of the Nebraska floods. All funds will be used to benefit the victims in affected communities. Several of the member families at The Hope Center for Kids in Fremont have been affected by this historic flooding - many losing their homes and currently displaced in shelters. Please donate now and use donation code “FLOOD” to designate giving.
Lift Up Sarpy County is assisting with emergency flood response. To assist efforts, donate now using donation code "FLOOD". A detailed list of needs is also available on their website.
UPDATE: 3/18/19 at 10 AM
Omaha Rapid Response is assisting relief efforts in Waterloo, Arlington/Fremont and Valley. They are continually assessing the areas of greatest need and sending out teams as water recedes. Donate through PayPal by clicking the "donate" button on the left of their profile or sign up to volunteer now.
UPDATE: 3/16/19 at 5:15 PM
The Salvation Army is not only accepting monetary donations, but now has a volunteer hotline as well. To volunteer for flood relief call 402-898-6050 or select your shift here. After you enter your zip code, click Flood Relief 2019 Volunteering and search by date.
Strength Behind the Blue is raising funds to assist community members affected by flooding. Donate now and use donation code FLOOD to direct your giving.
UPDATE: 3/16/19 at 10:35 AM
ESU #3 - Gifford Farm Education Center evacuated their farm, animals and staff after dams broke. They will need monetary support for their recovery efforts. Please send donations to Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Road, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005, ATTN: Flood Donation
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha is collecting contact information of those who would like to help with repair efforts when the immediate danger subsides and flood waters start to recede. Please sign up here.
The Salvation Army has a designated fund to help those impacted by the floods. Donate here now.
Scatter Joy Acres Inc rescued 200 goats and is in need of hay. Every $7 buys a bale of hay! Donate here. Volunteers are also needed Saturday, March 16th between 10-3 to assist with the goats and move barn items. Please see Scatter Joy Acres' Facebook page for more details.
United Way of the Midlands' Nebraska/Iowa Flood Relief Fund will direct 100% of every donation to meeting needs for emergency shelter, food and more. Donors will have the opportunity to direct their gift to a specific community within Nebraska or Iowa if they so wish. You can text FLOODRELIEF (all caps, no space) to 41444 or donate here now.