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By Mandy Taheri
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Nearly 400 inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP) in Lincoln were displaced after weekend storms caused "extensive roof damage to two housing units" at the facility, the NSP said in a press release.
Newsweek has reached out to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) and NSP for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Intense storms hit the state and parts of the Midwest over the weekend, killing one person and seriously injuring another.
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Most inmates at the facility, which houses maximum-, medium-security prisoners, and minimum-security inmates, are over 21 years old.
What to Know
Early Saturday morning, high winds damaged infrastructure, toppling trees, tearing off roofs and downing power lines, leaving thousands without electricity. As of Sunday morning, more than 18,500 customers are without power in the state according to PowerOutage.us.
In Lincoln, the state's capital, two NSP housing units were damaged at around 5:15 a.m. Saturday morning, leading the NDCS to move 387 incarcerated individuals.
"Staff moved 250 individuals to the gym and other available housing at NSP. The remaining 137 individuals were relocated to gyms at the Omaha Correctional Center and the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution," the NSP said in a Saturday statement.
NSP is the oldest correctional facility in the state, having opened in 1869.
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About 50 miles north in Waterloo, Nebraska, first responders found a woman dead in a vehicle crushed by a fallen tree in Two Rivers State Recreation Area.
The Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department said in a Saturday Facebook post: "Upon arrival, emergency personnel found 1 female, had sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased at the scene. The male passenger was pinned in the vehicle, which had sustained extensive damage from the fallen tree."
The man was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) with "life-threatening injuries," the post said.
Elsewhere in the Midwest, flooding hit parts of Wisconsin, leaving around 50,000 people without power in the state, according to PowerOutage.us.
In Colorado, nearly 200 inmates were evacuated over the weekend due to the Lee Fire.
What People Are Saying
Rob Jeffreys, director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, said Sunday: "The team at NSP and across NDCS came together quickly and immediately worked to make sure everyone was safe during and after this natural disaster. While many of our staff were facing damage to their own homes, they still showed up to keep their teammates, the population and Nebraska safe. This weekend was a testament to the team's commitment to the NDCS mission: Keep people safe."
Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in this tragic incident and want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victim's family. We are also grateful for the coordinated efforts of all the agencies involved in this complex rescue."
The official X account of the Wisconsin State Fair said in a Saturday post: "After last night's flash flooding resulted in the early closure of State Fair Park, Wisconsin State Fair officials have determined the Fair Park will not reopen for Sunday, August 10. We understand the disappointment you may feel as our team works all year for these 11 days. However, the safety of our Fairgoers, team, partners, and vendors will always be our top priority."
What Happens Next?
Severe weather canceled several events across the region, including the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday, and led to the cancellation of visits at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
Flash flooding and strong thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the region on Sunday.
Update 8/10/25, 4:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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