Ag Secretary visits Nebraska, surveys wildfire damage

OGALLALA, Neb. — The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is among the federal dignitaries helping to coordinate the response and relief efforts related to Nebraska’s wildfires.

Sec. Brooke Rollins toured the Morrill Fire by air on Monday joined by U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer and Congressman Adrian Smith. Rollins spoke in Ogallala and said that all of America stands with Nebraska right now.

Watch the full news conference

“These fires obviously demand a well-coordinated inter-agency response with multiple federal and local agencies responding side by side,” Rollins said. “I think that’s the visual you see up here today.”

Rollins said her office has deployed incident management teams, firefighters and aviation services to work alongside local agencies where their expertise is needed most. She said the USDA is activating emergency programs to help people affected to recover and rebuild immediately.

Communication equipment breakdowns highlighted as major issue during Morrill, Cottonwood Fires

While the damage is striking, Rollins said she was inspired by examples of the fire getting close to homes but not destroying them.

Here at News Channel Nebraska we continue to encourage you to donate to assist victims of the record-setting wildfires. Here is a link to donate to Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief.