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The Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund has raised $86,565.98, and in-kind donations have continued to steadily come in, bringing the total value of donations to over $100,000.
The final needs assessments have been completed in both counties. Members of the Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund have determined that the immediate private funding needs of area farmers, ranchers and other rural residents who were victims of the fires will be nearly $200,000.
The Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund assessment team has determined there were 68,165 acres burned, and 85 individuals, farmers or ranchers directly affected. The estimated loss to residential and personal property is $1.3 million, the estimated loss to uninsured private property is $3.5 million, and as another result of the fires, the estimated devaluation of private property is $24 million.
It was determined that the immediate needs for area fire departments exceeded $400,000. With the donation by the Peter Kiewit Foundation, along with private donations that have gone directly to the fire departments, their immediate needs are being met.
The transition of moving into the mid-term and long-term needs has begun. According to fire fund spokesperson Don Blausey, “The objectives of the Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund are being met, although we haven’t reached our overall goal yet. The immediate needs of victims and volunteers have, and are being taken care of, but we’ve only received about half of what we’ll need for taking this to the next level. With the donations received, we’ve helped about as much as we can for now, but donations are still needed”.
According to Blausey, the next level includes involvement of state and federal governmental agencies.
“Now we need to be looking at permanent fence removal and replacement, permanent water supply repairs, land and watershed stabilization, seeding, weed control, and education”, Blausey said. Government agencies such as the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency, U. S. Forest Service, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, University of Nebraska Extension Service, Chadron State College, Natural Resources Districts, and others are involved.
Monetary donations can be delivered to any financial institution in Dawes or Sioux Counties, or mailed to the Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund, PO Box 1125, Chadron, Nebraska, 69337.
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