Omaha Tribe evacuates families in preparation for flooding

Friday, June 10, 2011  

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has evacuated 54 families from their homes on the reservation in preparation for flooding from the Missouri River.

The evacuation took place near Macy, a low-lying town on the reservation. Some families were relocated to tribal housing elsewhere while others are taking shelter in the Umon Hon Nation School.

"The hardest thing about it is leaving my home," 86-year-old Winona Caramony told The Lincoln Journal Star. "I don't have too much but a lot of memories in that place. That's why I'm really reluctant about leaving it."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing record amounts of water along the Missouri to deal with runoff from heavy spring snowmelt and rainstorms. The tribe expects two to four feet of flooding later this week or early next week.

Get the Story:
Rural Macy residents evacuate ahead of flood (The Lincoln Journal Star 6/10)

Omaha Tribe evacuates homes due to Missouri River floods (6/8)