‘A 100-year event’: Dozens rescued from record flooding in Omaha; mudslides close roads

Key Points:

• Omaha experienced severe flooding Thursday morning with water depths up to 8 feet in some areas, prompting emergency crews to rescue approximately 60 people and several pets from stranded vehicles and homes.
• The Missouri River rose three feet due to heavy rains, marking a city-wide event exceeding a 100-year storm, far beyond the infrastructure design capacity, leading to widespread street flooding, mudslides, and numerous road closures.
• Key roads and highways in Omaha and Sarpy County remain closed or restricted due to flooding and debris, causing significant traffic delays and forcing residents to seek alternate routes; some major routes have since reopened.
• Power outages affected over 3,000 customers overnight, with about 1,000 still without power Thursday morning; all outages were resolved by early afternoon.
• Omaha Public Schools and Ralston Public Schools reported major bus route delays and cancellations due to flooding and road closures, urging families to drive students if possible and to monitor transportation updates closely.