General News

April 2nd through the 6th is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. Lucinda Robertson is Public Information Officer for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 

She’s encouraging all Iowans to be prepared for year-round emergencies by attention to local news and investing in a weather radio. Robertson says individuals should also make an emergency plan because a family may not be together when an emergency happens.  Finally, she says it’s important to create an emergency supply kit.

A recent survey released by the Salvation Army found 56% of Salvation Army Youth Programs are operating at or beyond their capacity.

Susan Eustice, Director of Public Relations for Salvation Army Omaha, says the survey covered more than 80 cities, including Omaha.  Results show that more than 80 percent of youth programs saw an increase in demand from children and families in the past year, due to unemployment issues and funding cuts.  Eustice says Omaha North Corps has been especially busy.

The city of Omaha is forming a task force to study solutions to problem landlords and poor rental housing.

Kevin Denker, Chief Housing Inspector for the city of Omaha, says his department has 4,000 active complaints they’re investigating. Some of those are multiple dwellings in one building. Denker says the Housing Division gets about 120 complaints a month. That number rises to 180 in the summer.

A workshop Wednesday in Omaha focuses on severe weather preparedness at home and in the workplace.

The National Safety Council Nebraska is holding the workshop during Severe Weather Awareness Week. Sunday night, an EF3 tornado damaged homes and businesses in North Platte. This year, Nebraska had its first-ever confirmed February tornado.

The city of Omaha is putting $300,000 toward a new job training program for young people.