Elkhorn, Nebraska
Nebraska Tornado Relief
April 2024 – April 2024
AH&H supported Elkhorn communities in the wake of a tornado, providing immediate cleanup, mucking, and emergency home repair services.
Disaster Profile
Supporting Recovery in Elkhorn and Blair After the Tornadoes
Severe storms struck Nebraska and Iowa on Friday night, April 26, with nearly 80 tornadoes touching down within a few hours. Most of these tornadoes were categorized as “strong” (EF2 – EF3) on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with winds up to 135 mph. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but Omaha, Nebraska, and its suburbs, along with some smaller Iowa towns, experienced significant damage. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, leaving behind a trail of devastation. After assessing the damage and local capacity, AHAH decided to focus our efforts on the suburbs of Omaha in Elkhorn and Blair.
Our Response
Helping Communities Recover After the Nebraska Tornadoes
All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) is dedicated to reacting as quickly as possible in the crucial moments post-disaster. Our Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART) and volunteers arrived within two days of the tornadoes to assist the close-knit local communities of Elkhorn and Blair, Nebraska. We quickly developed partnerships with local entities such as Omaha Rapid Response (ORR), offering our support in coordinating hundreds of volunteers who showed up every day with hands, heavy machinery, energy and chainsaws.
Over 15 days, the AHAH team completed 28 cleanup and debris removal worksites, impacting 49 residents. In addition, AHAH supported the coordination of nearly 1,000 volunteers across multiple organizations to increase efficiency.