OMAHA- Omaha has been selected as one of the five sites to test a pilot program that will develop a federal program to bolster the nation's disaster response capacity. The move marks a key step for local plans to develop a multibillion-dollar, all-hazards response facility.
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon announced the decision after receiving a letter from the acting undersecretary of defense notifying him of Omaha's selection. The other four sites selected are Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Sacramento and Denver. The goal of the program is to improve the National Disaster Medical System. Bacon said this helped Omaha reach an important milestone for the proposed project by UNMC and Nebraska Medicine that would combine a state-of-the-art teaching hospital and federally funded wings designed to enhance the nation's response to natural disasters, environmental accidents and highly contagious diseases.
Project NExT already has pledges of funding from the city and state with the state's contribution contingent on securing federal and private dollars. The project also has potential to create 8,700 high-paying permanent jobs with an estimated $1.3 billion total annual economic impact. The Nebraska Legislature has pledged $300 million in state funds toward the project if the federal government and private donors contribute $1.3 billion. The City of Omaha also pledged $93 million over the next decade in support. The proposed facility will be located on a 7.5 acre plot north of the Buffett Cancer Center that currently houses the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine helped care for citizens returning from Wuhan, China and a virus-stricken cruise ship after also having cared for Americans returning from West Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Dr. James Linder, CEO of Nebraska Medicine said, “This is really a key steppingstone to realizing that goal, the fact that we were chosen as one of these five sites really positions us well to execute on the programs we’ve discussed over the last year with the federal government.”
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