State seeks feds' help
Emergency declaration would help localities unlock aid to cover costs related to storms
Gov. Kevin St it th as requested the federal government declare a state of emergency across Oklahoma due to severe winter weather.
Stitt announced Wednesday he is seeking a disaster declaration for all of Oklahoma's 77 counties so localities can unlock federal aid to cover emergency costs.
The request comes a day after Stitt spoke to President Joe Biden via phone.
On Tuesday ," President Bid en pledged the federal government' s support for Oklahoma when we s poke by phone ,” St it ts aid in a
statement. “I am now urging the President and his administration to act quickly and deliver on our request to help Oklahomans recover from this historic storm.”
Bi den s poke on Tuesday with the governors of seven states hit by the winter storm.
If approved, the disaster declaration will allow cities, counties and tribes in the state to seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for costs related to mass care and sheltering residents. The emergency declaration would also allow FEMA to authorize federal resources to help Oklahoma' s state and local governments.
“The combination of nearly two weeks of record-breaking low temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain has had significant impacts on communities across the state,” said Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Mark Gower. “We hope the federal government will act quickly and approve Governor Stitt's request so we can begin to help communities recover.”