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Public SafetyThursday, November 5

Omaha will add 18 firefighters with help from a federal grant

The Morning Omaha teamFrom today’s edition · 1 min read · 4 sources

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The City Council voted Tuesday to accept about $3.9 million from FEMA through a SAFER grant. The city will add about $2.4 million to partly fund 18 new firefighting positions.

FEMA's roughly $3.9 million is the larger share of the program

Sources: Nebraska Public Media, WOWT

View as table
AmountShare
FEMA grant$3.9 million61.9%
City of Omaha$2.4 million38.1%

The grant-funded jobs come on top of nine the city already budgeted for 2027, and the department's staffing total will reach 714. They'll support Fire Station 70, planned on North 180th Street across from Elkhorn North High School.

  • Program: , meant to staff fire departments around the clock
  • Current SAFER grant: $6.8 million for 18 other positions
  • Deployment: "where needed," the city said in a press release

New firefighter funding would run from March 2027 to March 2030

  1. Nov. 3Omaha City Council voted to accept the FEMA grant.
  2. March 2027New funding for the 18 positions will begin.
  3. March 2028A separate SAFER grant for 18 other firefighters will run out.
  4. March 2030New funding ends and the city will pay full salary and benefits.

Sources: Nebraska Public Media, KETV

Sources: Nebraska Public Media, KETV, WOWT, Omaha World-Herald

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ElectionsOmaha voters appear to have passed both city bonds, worth $185 millionIf you voted Tuesday, you helped decide two city bonds, and both appear to have passed with big leads in unofficial results early Wednesday. Together they authorize $185 million: up to $155 million for a joint police and fire headquarters and up to $30 million for Tranquility Park. Neither measure increases city property or levy taxes.Today’s editionRead

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