FEMA to provide aid to 19 counties
Assistance requested following June storms
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s request for disaster assistance in 19 counties affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from last month has been approved by the Biden administration.
The approval means that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide funding to municipalities, counties, tribes and rural electric cooperatives for debris removal, infrastructure repairs, utility restoration and other storm-related expenses throughout Oklahoma.
Stitt submitted the request for a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration on July 1, seeking support for communities affected by destructive storms June 1418.
The storms caused damages and response costs totaling over $12.6 million in these 19 counties alone and brought damaging winds of up to 100 miles per hour and multiple tornadoes.
The 19 counties included in this declaration:
● Beaver
● Cimarron
● Comanche
● Cotton
● Craig
● Creek
● Delaware
● Harper
● Jefferson
● Love
● Major
● Mayes
● McCurtain
● Payne
● Pushmataha
● Rogers
● Stephens
● Tulsa
● Woodward
The U.S. Small Business Administration already has approved Oklahoma’s request for an SBA disaster declaration. This declaration enables homeowners, renters and business owners in the affected counties to access low-interest disaster loans to aid in their recovery efforts.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is actively collaborating with FEMA, SBA and emergency management departments throughout the state to assess the damages.
It is possible that additional counties may be added to the declaration in the future.
As recovery efforts continue, the approved disaster assistance will provide crucial support for the affected communities, helping them rebuild and restore essential infrastructure and services.