Storms that tore across Nemaha County on the afternoon of May 18 left an estimated $700,000 in damage to public infrastructure and drew a sweeping regional response that county and city officials say helped speed recovery efforts.
Renee Crtiser, Nemaha County's emergency manager, said the storms began on the county’s western edge outside Auburn before spreading damage — including downed power lines, washed-out roads and bridges — across the entire county.
"Everyone did everything right when it came to responding, taking shelter - we were lucky there," Crtiser said. "The National Weather Service called the event and it followed their prediction so we could react." The $700,000 damage estimate covers public infrastructure only and does not include losses to personal property.
