Thousands of people in Nebraska and Iowa are in need of assistance as recent tornadoes have displaced families, destroyed homes and devastated communities. In response, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has created the Nebraska & Iowa Tornado Relief Fund (NITRF).

Individuals can contribute to the fund to help our neighbors impacted by this disaster by visiting UnitedWayMidlands.org/TornadoRelief, texting TORNADO24 to 41444 or calling 402-522-7962. 

One-hundred percent of every donation will be directed to nonprofit programs meeting people’s need for emergency shelter and essential needs, such as food and clothing.  

Donors can also direct their gift to victims affected by tornadoes in Waverly, NE, and UWM will distribute those funds to the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County who serves that area.

In addition, UWM is assisting those affected by the storms through its 2-1-1 Helpline which serves Nebraska and Iowa. The 211 Helpline is partnering with the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency to take storm damage reports from individuals within the county.

People in need of post-storm assistance can connect with the Helpline by calling 2-1-1, texting their ZIP code to 898211 or visiting ne211.org. Community Referral Specialists will be available to assist callers 24/7. All calls are free and confidential, but standard message and data rates may apply when texting. Assistance is available in more than 200 languages using the tele-interpreter service and bilingual staff.

UWM is also taking sign-ups for volunteers who would like to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts in affected areas. While volunteers are not being deployed at this time due to safety concerns, UWM is coordinating with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and will share information on available opportunities at a later time. Individuals interested in volunteering are asked to register on UWM’s volunteer platform at uwmidlands.galaxydigital.com.

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About United Way of the Midlands:

For more than 100 years, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro by bridging the business and not-for-profit sectors to create a Circle of Support that helps our neighbors overcome difficult challenges and start building a better future. UWM’s funded programs and direct services address social and economic disparities and meet families’ essential needs such as healthy food, safe and stable housing, physical and mental health services, career preparation and job training. For additional information, go to: UnitedWayMidlands.org.