Officials respond to flooding

KEARNEY, NE (News Channel Nebraska)- State and local officials are assessing damage and forming plans for moving forward in the Kearney area. Officials say waters are receding in Kearney but some areas of town are still unsafe, specifically the hotel district on Talmadge street. City Manager Mike Morgan says a major priority today is assisting stranded travelers.

"Get them back to their vehicles, get them access to their belongings, assist them in transportation to go where they need to go," says Morgan. "That's a high priority and a concern and transporting individuals even to Walmart and different places, to assist them with their needs."

The University of Nebraska-Kearney has opened up two of its residence halls to house those displaced from homes or hotels. Spokesperson Todd Gottula says there are nearly 300 people staying on campus right now. Gottula says the University is working with local hotels to see if residence halls are needed to house visitors expected to come to town for weekend events.

"Serving the homeless right now is first priority and getting people a place to stay, so they're not out there on their own," says Gottula."We're having discussions doing everything we can to accommodate as much as we can within what we're capable of doing."

Governor Pete Ricketts, state senators, and state emergency management officials also surveyed damage in Kearney and Lexington this morning.