While $3 million doesn’t sound like a lot of money, it’s a big deal for rural counties, Fox said. Many of the same counties were hit by the March flooding, and their budgets were strained by problems the rest of the summer as rain and storms continued.

Still, the amount of damage didn’t reach the threshold required to merit federal aid, according to a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“We (FEMA) reaffirm our original findings that the impact from this event is not of the severity and magnitude that warrants a major disaster declaration,” Kristiana Sanford said. The decision was made by FEMA’s acting administrator, Pete Gaynor.

Federal aid is intended to help with those disasters that outstrip a state’s ability to cope on its own.

The counties still may have some hope of assistance, said Bryan Tuma, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Because Ricketts had declared a state of emergency as a result of those late summer storms, the state may be able to activate its emergency funds. Counties may qualify to be reimbursed for up to 50 % of eligible expenses, Tuma said.

Ricketts said Friday he was looking into the issue.