Douglas County Emergency Management Agency

04/24/2026

Due to recent rainfall, the burn ban in Douglas County has been lifted effective Friday, April 24, 2026, according to Travis Harlow, Waterloo Fire Chief, and the Douglas County Fire Chiefs Association.

While this is welcome news, safety remains critical.

If you plan to burn:
✔️ Follow all open burn permit rules
✔️ Never leave a fire unattended
✔️ Call 911 immediately if a fire gets out of control

Let’s do our part to keep our communities safe. Burn smart.

04/23/2026

⚠️ Be prepared for the potential of severe weather this Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Severe weather capable of producing large hail (up to golf ball size) and damaging winds (up to 60 mph) may impact the Douglas County area this Thursday as storms begin to develop through 12:30 p.m. and into the afternoon hours.

‼️See the latest weather update below from the US National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska.

Make sure you have a plan, enable alerts on your mobile devices, and know where to go if severe weather develops. Stay weather-aware this evening and be ready to take shelter if warnings are issued.

📲Download our new ReachWell App to receive severe weather alerts and emergency notifications in 130+ languages.

🔗Get the app here: rwell.us/DouglasNE

Remember: preparedness starts with awareness. Stay informed. Stay weather ready. Stay safe.

Scattered thunderstorms will develop in the shaded area, and one to three of them may become strong to severe within the brighter red shaded area. If storms are able to become severe, hail up to golf ball size and wind gusts up to 60 mph would be possible.

04/20/2026

‼️UPDATE: Due to recent rainfall, this burn ban has been lifted on Friday, April 24, 2026.

🚫 Burn Ban in Effect for Douglas County Nebraska

Due to the continued dry air and windy weather conditions in Douglas County, a burn ban is in effect, starting Monday, April 20, 2026.

⚠️During this time, no open burning is allowed of any sort, including campfires and burn barrels.

Please help protect our community by avoiding any activities that could spark a fire. 🔥

Stay safe and continue to monitor official Douglas County social media channels for updates.

04/14/2026

⚠️ Be prepared for the potential of severe weather this Tuesday evening, April 14, 2026.

Severe weather capable of producing large hail (up to 1.75") and damaging winds (up to 70 mph) may impact the Douglas County area between 7 and 9 p.m. Tuesday.

‼️See the latest weather update below from the US National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska.

Make sure you have a plan, enable alerts on your mobile devices, and know where to go if severe weather develops. Stay weather-aware this evening and be ready to take shelter if warnings are issued.

📲Download our new ReachWell App to receive severe weather alerts and emergency notifications in 130+ languages.

🔗Get the app here: rwell.us/DouglasNE

Remember: preparedness starts with awareness. Stay informed. Stay weather ready. Stay safe.

Chances are increasing for a severe thunderstorm to track across the highlighted area this evening, bringing the potential for hail (locally up to 1.75") and damaging wind gusts (up to 70 mph). Stay weather aware.

04/09/2026

⚠️ Be prepared for severe weather this Thursday evening, April 9, 2026.

Strong to severe storms are expected across southeast Nebraska which may impact the Douglas County area this afternoon into the evening hours. Timing for storm development could be between 5 and 7 p.m.

🌩️ Hazards may include:
• Hail up to 2 inches in diameter
• Wind gusts up to 70 mph
• A brief tornado possible

Stay weather-aware this evening and be ready to take shelter if warnings are issued.

‼️See the latest weather update below from the US National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska.

📲Download our new ReachWell App to receive severe weather alerts and emergency notifications in 130+ languages.

🔗Get the app here: rwell.us/DouglasNE

Preparedness starts with awareness. Stay informed. Stay safe.

Strong to severe storm development is expected in southeast Nebraska this afternoon into the evening. The primary hazard will be isolated hail (up to 2") with damaging wind gusts (up to 70 mph) and a brief tornado also possible.

04/03/2026

🔥Burn Ban Lifted in Douglas County

Recent rainfall has allowed the countywide burn ban to be lifted. While this is welcome news, safety remains critical.

If you plan to burn:
✔️ Follow all open burn permit rules
✔️ Never leave a fire unattended
✔️ Call 911 immediately if a fire gets out of control

⚠️Keep in mind: Ditch and pasture vegetation remains dry and can spread quickly. Wet, muddy conditions may also make it harder for fire crews to access off-road areas.

Let’s do our part to keep our communities safe. Burn smart.

03/27/2026

As we wrap up Severe Weather Awareness Week, don’t wait until a storm is on the way to get prepared.

‼️Taking a few simple steps now can make all the difference:

- Build an emergency kit with essentials
- Sign up for alerts and notifications
- Know your safe place at home
- Create a plan so your family knows what to do
- Preparation today helps keep you and your loved ones safe tomorrow.

📲Download our new ReachWell App to receive severe weather alerts and emergency notifications in 130+ languages.

🔗Get the app here: rwell.us/DouglasNE

👉Check out the graphic below for more tips and reminders on how to prepare for severe weather.

03/26/2026

Outdoor warning sirens are an important tool—but they are not meant to be your only source of alerts.

📢Sirens are designed to warn people who are outdoors.
You may not hear them inside your home, while sleeping, or during severe weather.

‼️That’s why it’s critical to have multiple ways to receive alerts, including:

- Wireless emergency alerts on your phone
- NOAA weather radio
- Trusted mobile apps and local media alerts

Don’t rely on sirens alone—make sure you have a plan to stay informed.

👉 Check out the graphic below to learn more.

03/25/2026

Severe Weather Awareness Week continues, and today’s focus is one of the most important things you can know during severe weather:

The difference between a Watch and a Warning.

🟡 Watch = Be prepared
🔴 Warning = Take action

A watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather.
A warning means severe weather is happening or about to happen—act immediately.

Understanding these alerts can help you take the right action at the right time—and could save your life.

👉 Check out the graphic below for more details.

03/24/2026

Wildfires are impacting communities across Nebraska, and support is needed.
The Omaha Community Foundation is helping coordinate donations for wildfire response efforts. If you are able, please consider contributing to help communities affected by these fires.

To learn more or to donate, visit https://omahafoundation.org/news/nebraska-wildfires/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQvgqBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEetBwNDWkA9Dx69VaEouDqac3Ld_pZWRrRTmkHmPZNY0bJe2uVru9fHYiO_eg_aem_qJBFKQAX5vnhoCwA6YasVw

Donate to the Nebraska Wildfires Response FunD As Nebraska communities continue to battle wildfires, immediate needs are emerging. While containment has improved in several areas, conditions continue to shift due to weather and wind, […]

03/24/2026

As Severe Weather Awareness Week continues, we’re taking a closer look at thunderstorm safety.

Severe thunderstorms can develop quickly and bring damaging winds, hail, heavy rain, and dangerous lightning.

The best way to stay safe? Be prepared before the storm arrives.

Here are a few important reminders:

- Move indoors at the first sign of a storm
- Stay away from windows and glass doors
- Keep your phone charged and alerts turned on
- Avoid trees and downed power lines
- Delay travel if severe weather is approaching

‼️Remember: Even storms without tornadoes can be dangerous.

👉 Check out the graphic below for more safety tips and reminders to help you and your family stay safe.

03/23/2026

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Nebraska starts today (March 23–27) — and it begins with a simple but critical reminder:

Severe weather can develop quickly, and staying informed is your first line of defense. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts.

‼️Remember: Outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert people who are outdoors—not those inside homes or buildings.

To stay safe, make sure you have:
- Wireless emergency alerts enabled on your phone
- A NOAA weather radio
- Trusted weather apps and local alerts

📲Download our new ReachWell App to receive severe weather alerts and emergency notifications in 130+ languages.

🔗Get the app here: rwell.us/DouglasNE

Preparedness starts with awareness. Stay informed. Stay safe.