UNO Senior Helps Restore Flood-Ravaged Fairgrounds

Communities like Arlington were tasked with cleaning up what floodwaters left behind after swollen rivers submerged a massive chunk of eastern Nebraska.

The Washington County Fairgrounds in Arlington are located only about half a mile from the Elkhorn River, which experienced record flooding in March 2019. As a result, fairground buildings, 4-H club offices and facilities, food stands, and arenas were left under about four feet of water and sewage.

Alyssa Spartz is a fifth-year senior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) double-majoring in Emergency Management and Psychology with concentrations in Public Health and Nonprofit Management and a minor in Sociology.

When the University of Nebraska put out a call searching for students to assist in flood recovery efforts, Spartz didn’t hesitate.

“When I first heard about the flood serviceship program, I was interested in it from an emergency management major perspective, but also because I wanted the chance to help out local Nebraska communities after the flooding,” she said.

The Honors Program student has joined fair workers and other volunteers in power-washing, sanding, and painting the fairgrounds to have the facilities in top-notch shape by the time the Washington County Fair kicks off on Friday, July 26.

“It’s been hot and hard labor, but definitely something that I would do again.”

Watch the video above to learn more about Alyssa Spartz’s involvement in the NU Flood Serviceship program.