Aid Approved for 15 More Counties to Assist Local Governments, Rural Electric Cooperatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – June 16, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Mary Fallin today announced the federal government has approved public assistance for an additional 15 Oklahoma counties to help with storm and flooding recovery expenses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the request, one day after the governor and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) submitted the request for Adair, Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Creek, Garvin, Jackson, Logan, McCurtain, McIntosh, Marshall, Muskogee, Pushmataha, Sequoyah and Washita counties.

“I appreciate the federal government’s quick response to our request,” said Fallin. “This will help rebuild our damaged roads and bridges as well as offset other costs associated with responding to flood and storm damage.”

The federal funds may be used to assist municipalities, counties and rural electric cooperatives with infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with damages caused by last month’s storms and flooding.

To date, 40 counties have been approved by FEMA for public assistance. Thirteen counties have been approved by FEMA for individual assistance.

Fallin continued to encourage individuals and business-owners whose property was damaged between May 5 and June 4 by storms and flooding to report those damages to FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) regardless of what county they are located in. She stressed that damage assessments are ongoing and the state expects to add more counties to its requests for both individual and public assistance.

A list of counties receiving aid is below.

Public Assistance

Note: Public assistance makes federal funding available to assist municipalities, counties and rural electric cooperatives with infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storms. Governor Fallin has requested public assistance in 40 counties to date, all of which have now been approved by FEMA.

Approved Counties: Adair,Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Creek, Garvin, Grady, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Logan, Love, Marshall, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman and Washita

Individual Assistance

Note: Individual assistance makes available federal 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. Thirteen Oklahoma counties have been approved by FEMA for individual assistance. Governor Fallin has requested aid for 12 additional counties that have not yet been approved.

Approved Counties: Atoka, Bryan, Cleveland, Comanche, Grady, Johnston, Kiowa, Le Flore, McClain, McCurtain, Oklahoma, Pittsburg and Pottawatomie

Additional Requested Counties: Beckham, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Latimer, Marshall, McIntosh, Okfuskee, Pushmataha, Seminole, Tulsa and Wagoner