The following post was written by Jenna. She put into words what the rest of us have felt. The weather event, which began over a week ago, has affected so many Midwest farmers, ranchers and communities (large and small).

To all who have been directly affected by the “bomb” which dropped on the Midwest a week ago, please know the entire Z Crew has prayed for you, thought of you and cried with you…and will continue to do so!

__

It was a Great Plains hurricane, some said.

The winter storm that roared to life in Colorado, with winds rivaling that of a tropical storm, moved into the panhandle of Nebraska, carrying its blizzard with it. The population in the eastern half of the state watched as the folks out west braced for impact.

Ranchers prepared as best they could with the warning they were given – moving livestock to safer locations, setting up wind breaks, finding shelter for newborn calves. They worked until the wind and the snow made it impossible to see, then they went inside and waited. And after the blizzard passed, they started to dig out.

They dug themselves out of their homes. They dug paths for vehicles so they could get to their herds and go searching for lost calves and wandering mommas. They dug live animals –  and carcasses – out of snow drifts. Assessing the damage from this single storm, one rancher proclaimed it one of the worst days ever.

—

But the Great Plains hurricane wasn’t finished. As the storm continued across the state, the snow turned to rain, dropping torrential amounts of water onto the frozen and already-saturated ground.

And then it was the folks from the Panhandle who watched.

They watched as, back east, the rivers began to rise, levees breached, and a dam washed away. Farmers and ranchers moved quickly to save what they could – attempting to move their livestock and possessions to higher ground. But the unprecedented flood waters moved quicker.

Those farmers and ranchers saw their livelihoods, their animals, their barns, their equipment, their homesteads, and the soil their family settled on generations ago – wash away.

Soon, it seemed, half of the state was under water. It nearly was.

—

Nebraskans who were not directly affected watched helplessly as the Great Plains hurricane wreaked havoc across their state and on their friends, family, and neighbors. And then, they went to work. Before the water had even crested in some areas – Nebraskans went to work.

In times of crisis, we’re often reminded to look for the helpers. We were not, and are not, short of helpers in this state.

It started with a call for bottled water – and we delivered. Then it was a call for water, food, diapers, hygiene items, cleaning supplies – and we delivered. Places to stay for those who had to be evacuated from their homes or, even worse, for those who lost them completely; air boats to get feed to the livestock that was trapped on islands of dry land; helicopters and airplanes to move citizens out of submerged towns – we delivered.

Then, when word began to spread outside the state that Nebraskans were in need, the helpers in other states began to show up. “We want to help.” “How can we help?” “What do you need?”

They gave money. They designated drop-off locations for supplies. They donated their trucks, trailers, and time to deliver those supplies. They loaded hay in Texas and Kansas and Montana, and hauled it to Nebraska – saying, “We remember when you did this for us.”

They reminded us, again, to always look for the helpers.

—

Now that the snow has melted and the waters have receded, initial damage estimates of the Great Plains hurricane have been released, and the numbers are staggering.

Preliminary estimates of damage to homes and businesses, as well as state infrastructure, is more than $1.3 billion.

For the farmers and ranchers, the estimated losses – $400 million in cow-calf operations and $440 million in row crops – are devastating. For them, the aftermath of this storm will be felt for months and years ahead.

Farmers, ranchers, and folks in rural communities are a resilient bunch, a humble bunch. They rarely ask for help and certainly don’t expect it. But for those of us who want to support them, there are a number of ways to do so.

One way is to support the Disaster Relief Fund established by the Nebraska Farm Bureau. One hundred percent of the donations to this fund will be distributed to Nebraska farmers, ranchers, and rural communities affected by the storm and flooding.

To donate money directly, visit Nebraska Farm Bureau Disaster Relief Fund.

On that page is also a link to the Agriculture Disaster Exchange. Designed like a “want ad” page, this exchange provides a place for folks to both seek and offer help.

And, finally, to show support for the farmers, ranchers, Nebraskans, and all of the people in the Midwest affected by this storm, you can purchase a t-shirt right here in the NebraskaWheatie “shop”. All proceeds from these t-shirt sales will go directly to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Disaster Relief Fund.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Let’s continue to be the helpers.

__

A special thank-you to Kaleigh Mueller Photo/Video/Design, a fellow Nebraskan who donated her design skills for our T-shirt fundraiser. I stumbled across her Instagram page and sent her a very random message asking if I could use her graphic from the post about the floods as a T-shirt design. She not only agreed, but also brought my other ideas – and more of her own – to life. Kaleigh, you are awesome – thank you so much!

“There are no strangers here. Only friends you haven’t met yet.”