Law enforcement and fire leaders back $4M proposal to buy state‑owned equipment for Nebraska Task Force 1

Sen. Jason Prokop told the committee LB968 would appropriate $4 million to the Military Department to buy equipment (boats, response trailers, technical rescue gear) for Nebraska Task Force 1, a FEMA‑certified Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team based in Lincoln. Proponents argued state ownership ensures rapid in‑state response when federal equipment is deployed nationally.

Lincoln Fire Chief David Engler, Task Force program manager Ashley Engler and field commanders described the rapid mobilization to the July Horizon Biofuels explosion in Fremont and other out‑of‑state deployments. They said Task Force personnel and training are already in place; the principal shortfall is state‑available equipment because FEMA‑owned assets may be pre‑positioned out of state for large disasters. Several medical and EMS experts testified the ability to reach trapped victims in the first 24 hours is critical and that state‑provided equipment would cut response time and risk.

The bill designates the Military Department as owner and would support readiness, training and maintenance under existing Task Force accountability structures; proponents said the investment leverages existing federal maintenance systems and readiness checks. Committee members asked about deployment precedence, mutual aid (EMAC) and whether other states had adopted similar state‑equipment approaches; witnesses cited Tennessee and Missouri examples and said state investment improves both in‑state response and the ability to deploy and receive reciprocal mutual aid.