June 26, 2013
Release

Governor Mary Fallin announced today that the White House has approved disaster aid for Oklahomans in three additional counties impacted by the May tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding and severe storms. The action grants assistance for residents and business owners in LeFlore, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee counties.

Still under consideration by the federal government is the governor’s request for the counties of Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Logan, Tulsa and Wagoner, also to be approved for disaster aid.

“More than 200 homes were damaged by recent storms in the nine counties listed in our request,” said Governor Fallin. “While it’s great news thatOklahomans in LeFlore, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee counties will now receive personal assistance, we are still hopeful that federal officials will approve disaster aid for the residents of the other six counties in question.”

Oklahomans who suffered uninsured damage in LeFlore, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee counties are now eligible for assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.

To apply for disaster assistance homeowners, renters and business owners may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online at www.disasterassistance.gov .

Today’s designation amends the declaration first issued by the federal government on May 20 for damage that occurred in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties and later modified to include Canadian County. More than $10 million in assistance already has been awarded by the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to individuals living in those counties.

Fallin Requests Assistance for Public Entities Additional Counties

Fallin today requested public assistance for Atoka, Canadian, Coal, Hughes, Latimer, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, and Seminole counties and expanded public assistance for Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties which already had been included in the May 20 declaration.

If approved, the designation would deliver federal funding to assist municipalities, counties, schools and rural electric cooperatives with infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storms.

“Preliminary damage assessments show nearly $40 million in infrastructure losses in these counties,” Fallin said. “It’s important that federal officials grant additional public assistance to help these areas get back on their feet quickly.”

More counties can be added to the request as additional damages are identified.

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