Fire Response Resources

NDA Website

• NDA’s Hay and Forage Hotline connects buyers with sellers of hay, pasture and other types of forage. This hotline service is available at no cost to buyers and sellers.

NDOT Website

• Check road conditions on 511 Nebraska before traveling into fire areas.

Nebraska State Fire Marshal Website

Farmers.gov Website

• USDA has a number of different programs available to help with disaster recovery. Visit www.farmers.gov/recover - answer a few short questions - and you'll be shown what sorts of USDA disaster recovery programs are available to your specific operation.
• On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.
  
  

  USDA has issued several Stakeholder Notices for natural disaster declarations due to drought. This map shows Nebraska counties covered by those natural disaster declarations, designated as primary disaster areas or contiguous counties.

Nebraska FSA Website

List of county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices

Fact Sheets

• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for 2022 Wildfires - Nebraska
• Emergency Conservation Program for 2022 Wildfires - Nebraska
• Emergency Loan Program
• Emergency Relief Program (ERP)
• Have You Lost Livestock Due to Wildfires? Consider Applying for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
• LFP - Livestock Forage Disaster Program
• Tree Assistance Program

Press Releases

• USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service to Present on Drought Assistance Programs During May 12 Webinar
• USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Nebraska Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought, Wildfire

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Website

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

USDA Risk Management Agency Website

• Brochure - Cover Crops and Crop Insurance
• Fact Sheet - Natural Disasters and Crop Insurance
• Fact Sheet - Prevented Planting Insurance Provisions Drought
• Wildfires and Crop Insurance – The Topeka Region – Spring 2022

USDA Rural Development Website

• Rural Development Disaster Assistance
• Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants - This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.
• Business Programs - We offer a variety of business loans and grants, depending on the location, size, and needs of the business.
• Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program - This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
• Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants - Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

Farmers/Ranchers: If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, call the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline at 800-464-0258.

KRVN's website has a listing of wildfire relief efforts and information. Their listing includes where to send financial donations, where to find housing for those displaced by fires, and information regarding supply donations. Thanks to KRVN for listing wildfire efforts and information on their website that we are sharing here.

Hot Meals USA will be serving free meals to the firefighters and fire victims. Meals will be served three times a day from 6am to 8:30pm at the Cambridge City Park next to the Fire Hall.

Financial

• Nebraska Cattlemen Sandhills Affiliate is accepting financial donations for those affected by the wildfire in their area. Please mail checks to NCSA, 409 W North Loup River Road, Purdum NE 69157. Call Kat Kennedy at 308-645-7036 with questions.
• Southwest NE Farmer Fire Relief: A Venmo account has been set up for financial donations to be used to assist the southwest Nebraska farmers and ranchers affected by the recent wildfires.
• Financial Relief 702 Wildfire – Checks can be mailed to Angie’s Small Town Boutique, PO Box Q, Cambridge, NE 69022. Please make checks out to the Cambridge Fire Department.
• First Central Bank has opened a Fire Relief Fund account. Donations can be made at any of their locations in Arapahoe, Cambridge, McCook and Curtis. Just tell the employee it is for the Fire Disaster relief fund.
• Monetary donations to assist with all aspects of disaster relief from the wildfires in Gosper County can be made to the following:
  Elwood Area Foundation, online at elwoodfoundation.org (memo to the Disaster Relief Fund); PO Box 303 Elwood NE 308-785-8113
  Pinnacle Bank – Elwood, NE 308-785-2280
  Pinnacle Bank – Lexington, NE 308-324-6920
  Security First Bank 308-785-3366
  We thank all of those who are helping in any way!
• Oxford Area Foundation
  P.O. Box 476
  Oxford, NE 68967
  For any questions call 308-824-3264

Housing

• Ag Valley Co-op is offering the former Good Samaritan Rest Home in Arapahoe as a temporary living quarters for those displaced from their home by the fire. Call the Ag Valley office in Edison to make arrangements. The number is 308-927-3681.
• The Don Sjogren YMCA in Holdrege is open to anyone who might need a place to go that has been evacuated due to the fires by Edison and Arapahoe! They have water, snacks and blankets!

Supplies

• Nebraska Cattlemen Sandhills Affiliate Wildfire Relief – For wildfire donations in the Sandhills area, Harsh Mercantile in Purdum is accepting donations of posts, wires and staples to be distributed. Call Mike Moody at Harsh Mercantile at 308-834-3251 with questions.
• 702 Wildfire Livestock Feed Relief: John & Jake O’Dea have established a hay donation drop off for those affected in the Cambridge, 702 Road Wildfire. Area cattlemen are in dire need of feed. Looking for big round, big square, and small square bales of feed. The drop off is located 1 mile west of Indianola on the south side of the road. The address is 39528 US HWY 6, Indianola. Please call ahead and labor and loader will be available to unload. Call Jake at 308-340-8985 or John at 308-340-1140.
• Bartley Fencing Supply Relief 702 Wildfire – Fencing supplies are needed in the 702 Wildfire Area. Fencing supplies can be left at the Bartley Fire Hall located 2 blocks north of HWY 6 and 34, next to the City Park.
• Danbury Hay Donation 702 Wildfire – Daffer Feed Yard on HWY 89, two miles west of Danbury is taking donations of Hay which will be distributed to area producers.
• Lexington Livestock, Lexington and Huss Livestock, Kearney are wanting to help those affected by the wildfires. They will be reaching out to those affected to see what help is needed from fencing to hay delivery. They will also accept donations of fencing supplies, hay and feed. Please contact them through their Facebook page, at lexlivestock.com or by calling 308-324-4663. You can also email them at lexlivemarket@gmail.com.
• Fencing Supply Drive to benefit those affected by the 2022 Southwest Nebraska Wildfires. The Blue Hill and Local Fire departments ask you to drop supply or monetary donations off between 1-3pm THIS Saturday 4/30 at the CHS Coop Shop in Blue Hill. Call Alex Buschow at 402-984-7103 with any questions.
• York County FFA Wildfire Relief Drive: The York County FFA Chapters, including Centennial, York, McCool Junction, Cross County, and Heartland, are collecting livestock feed and fencing supplies for those affected by the wildfires in southwest Nebraska. You can drop your donations off at any of these schools or at Tractor Supply, Orschelns or Nutrition Services in York. They will also accept monetary donations that will be used for necessary supplies. Call Holly Podliska at Centennial Public Schools or any of the York County FFA advisors with any questions.
• For those with losses during the Arapahoe area fire, stop by Arapahoe Pharmacy or Mark’s Pharmacy for free replacements on personal care items and supplies (toothpaste & toothbrushes, shampoo, etc.) While supplies last. We will work with your doctor and insurance to replace lost medications.
• Rudy’s Tire will fix all fire related flats for free and are offering discounted prices for emergency responders and fire department vehicles! Two locations:
  Rudy’s Tire Holdrege – 1016 14th Ave, Holdrege, NE – 308-995-8686
  Rudy’s Tire Alma – 805 N Hwy 183, Alma, NE – 308-928-2656

Donations

• Post-Fire Donation Items - Click here for more information on post-fire donation items for 739 Fire Relief
• Holdrege Soft Water Services will donate water bottles to those who need them. For more information or to contact them:
  Holdrege Soft Water Service
  314 West Avenue
  Holdrege, NE 68949
  Contact: Amie
  Phone: 308-995-8791
  Email: softwaterhold@gmail.com

Volunteers

• Volunteers are needed to transport donated hay to wildfire victims. If you can help, contact Steve Rice at 308-695-4231. Mr. Rice is also coordinating donations of feed and fencing supplies for those impacted by the wildfires.

Nebraska Cattlemen's Wildfire Resources

• In an effort to help beef cattle producers impacted by the Road 739 Fire, leadership of the Nebraska Cattlemen's Disaster Relief Fund activated the account and are now accepting monetary donations until June 30, 2022.