After visiting 60 of 66 Nebraska counties reporting damage from recent flooding, state officials Friday put the damage estimate at $13 million.

They cautioned that the true cost won't be known until repair estimates are actually formalized and the repairs are completed, including those to roads and bridges.

Of the 60 counties visited so far, 44 have met the threshold should a disaster declaration be issued. That is expected to happen Monday from Gov. Dave Heineman.

The state can't apply for federal recovery money until the governor declares a disaster. Then the president has to also declare a disaster.

At Friday's briefing, Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy reminded everyone that flood recovery is a long-term process and he thanked the state and federal people who have worked hard to help with the flooding.

The railroad bridge that collapsed into the Elkhorn River outside Norfolk on June 15th could be repaired and back in service sooner than expected. Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk says officials tell him that service could be restored as early as August 7th.

Businesses have been forced to truck their goods in and out of town since the collapse. The span is owned by Union Pacific and leased to the Nebraska Central Railroad.

A railroad worker died when the bridge fell. Two other workers survived.