dan swanson
news | press

Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy has recognized the re-establishment of American Red Cross emergency services in Otoe County with the presentation of state’s first “Be Prepared” awards on Sept. 8.

Red Cross disaster volunteers, led by Otoe County Emergency Management Director Gregg Goebel, received the Excellence in Emergency Volunteer Mobilization award.

“These are people who have given their time and energy to volunteer training, and are ready at a moment’s notice to help respond to natural disasters and other emergencies in our state,” Sheehy said.

Red Cross volunteers responded to the EnTire Recycling fire in 2002 and offered assistance to the elderly who had been evacuated from Riverview Terrace, but Goebel said the response team soon became inactive.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the flooding in New Orleans, Goebel said interest in reviving the response team rose. In 2007, he initiated training and invited volunteers to become part of an Otoe County disaster action team.

The team coordinates with the Cornhusker Chapter of the American Red Cross in Lincoln for training and supplies.

Goebel said 10 people have gone through the training and are now qualified to respond to disasters anywhere the Red Cross is active. He said Otoe County volunteers have been invited to join hurricane relief in Texas this week.

Locally, the team responded to an August fire at a foster home in rural Nebraska City.

“The action team’s initial response is to take care of immediate needs,” Goebel said. “It’s just so victims of disasters don’t have to worry about shelter, food or clothing until they can coordinate with their insurance.”

“As we’ve seen in the response to severe storms in particular, local volunteers are a great asset,” said Sheehy. “I offer my thanks to these outstanding citizens and all our volunteers for their commitment to protecting their communities,” he said.

Goebel said the action team has been holding monthly meetings. Most of the group is from Nebraska City, but one member is from Palmyra. Goebel said more volunteers are welcome.

Also receiving awards were volunteers from Bellevue, Columbus and Linclon. The Panhandle Citizen Corps Network was selected as city corps of the year. The Boy Scout Mid-America Council Pahuk Pride Class of 2008 received the local hero award, who were at a training camp in Little Sioux, Iowa, when a tornado ripped through, were recognized.

The more than 100 scouts and adult leaders at the camp acted quickly after the storm performing first aid on their fellow injured campers until paramedics arrived.