Rep. Adrian Smith agreed with President Obama address concerning the oil spill in the Gulf Coast and how the  nation should prioritize stopping the leak. 

“This is BP’s well and they have the responsibility to cap it and must be held fiscally responsible for the cleanup and consequences,” Smith said.  “However, I’m disappointed President Obama used tonight’s address to call for a return of the disastrous House energy bill known as cap-and-trade.”

Smith called the nation’s energy policy broken, “but we are not going to fix it by bringing back cap-and-trade.”

“ Cap-and-trade wouldn’t cap the leak and it wouldn’t prevent new ones,” he said. “All it would serve to do is make fossil fuels more expensive – driving up the cost of production agriculture which will in turn drive up the costs for consumers across the board.”

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen said Smith doesn’t have answers  addressing the fundamental reason why the oil spill took place and the continuing environmental degradation caused by fossil fuel use.

“The largest single dirty energy subsidy is carbon emissions not capped or taxed,” Hansen said. ”If the market based and flexible cap and trade approach is not acceptable, then what is the better answer?  Continuing the dirty energy subsidies is not a better answer, it is more of the same old big oil failed approach.”

Flooding will result in an increased number of mosquitoes, according to the state’s public health veterinarian.

“Flood waters are ideal for breeding mosquitoes because they lay their eggs in water,” said Dr. Annette Bredthauer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“It takes less than a week for mosquito larvae to become adults.  So, it’s time to be diligent about applying mosquito repellent.”

In addition to using repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, to avoid mosoquitoes, people should wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks, and avoid going out at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

It’s also important to eliminate standing water wherever possible.  Empty containers like bird baths, buckets and unused tires.  In a pool of standing water, mosquito-killing products labeled for elimination of mosquito larvae can be added.

DHHS is working with the state’s local health departments to combat mosquitoes by supplying larvicides and DEET repellent wipes.  

“Most of the new mosquitoes will be the nuisance kind,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer. “But it’s important to focus on avoiding mosquito bites because they can carry diseases like Western equine encephalitis and West Nile.”

The kind of mosquitoes that carry West Nile generally don’t show up until later in the summer, under dry conditions.  However, the first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus this year have been found in Douglas and Lincoln counties.  

The mosquitoes were found as a result of the state’s first round of trapping.  DHHS and the local health departments conduct mosquito trapping every year to determine if the virus is active in the state.

We are detecting West Nile virus in mosquitoes earlier this year than in previous years,” Dr. Schaefer said. “West Nile is now part of Nebraska’s landscape and we can expect to have some cases every year.”
 
No human cases have yet been reported.
 
More information can be found on the DHHS website at www.dhhs.ne.gov

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is encouraging owners of Nebraska restaurants, grocery stores and food establishments that have experienced flooding or flood damage to contact NDA’s Bureau of Dairies and Foods.

 The Bureau staff can answer questions about food safety, clean up, and water issues dealing with the proper handling and preparation of food, said NDA Director, Greg Ibach.  Bureau staff will also inspect establishments following flood damage to ensure proper clean up, determine if food products are safe for consumption or need to be destroyed, and can provide verification of destroyed products for insurance purposes.

 “The NDA has been in contact with the restaurant and grocers associations in Nebraska, along with owners of many individual restaurants that may have been directly affected,” said Ibach.  “Assessments will be made as soon as possible after the waters recede.”  

 The Bureau of Dairies and Foods can be reached at (402) 471-2536.

Information is available to help Nebraska residents and businesses in recovery efforts.  The Joint Information Center Hotline number is 888-656-6045 and is available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.

Private Insurance Information

Homeowners and business with flood damage should contact local emergency management agency or call 211 and should also notify their insurance agent of damages. 

 The Nebraska Department of Insurance has information posted its website at www.doi.nebraska.gov. Residents with additional questions can contact the department’s hotline at 1-877-564-7323 during normal business hours.

 A FEMA Flood Insurance Claims Handbook is a good resource for those who have flood insurance.  It can be found at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2184.

Agricultural Producer Information 

Crop and livestock producers experiencing a loss are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) also encourages producers to be in contact with their insurance agent. Restaurants and grocery stores that have flood damage can contact NDA’s Bureau of Dairies and Foods at 402-471-2536.

 Clean Up Information

Flood related information on debris cleanup, disposal of animal carcasses and hazardous waste is available from Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality http://www.deq.state.ne.us.

 Road Conditions

Road conditions can be found online at www.511nebraska.org, or by dialing 511 from cell or landline phones.