Oklahoma Disaster Aid Tops $54 Million
Release Date: June 3, 1999
Release Number: 1272-36
» More Information on Oklahoma Tornadoes, Severe Storms, and Flooding
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- In the first month since Oklahoma's May disaster, state and federal assistance in the 19 eligible counties has totaled more than $54 million, disaster recovery officials said today.
Nearly 9,000 Oklahomans have registered for assistance so far and others have nearly a month to register if they suffered damage in the May 3-5 tornadoes, storms and flooding. The July 2 deadline to register is 60 days after the presidential declaration of disaster.
The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $44,084,400 in low-interest loans for 978 homeowners, renters and business owners to repair, replace and rebuild disaster-damaged property.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $1,670,860 for 1,586 families and individuals whose homes were destroyed or made unlivable by the disaster. The program provides money for temporary housing or minimal home repairs to make property safe, secure and habitable. Inspectors have completed 2,777 housing inspections in the field.
The state of Oklahoma and FEMA have disbursed $2,236,414 in 656 individual and family grants, to meet disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by other assistance programs. These funds may be spent for medical and transportation expenses, home repair, replacement of essential property, funeral expenses and other serious needs or necessary expenses caused by the disaster.
FEMA also has approved $6,114,340 to state and local governments and some non-profit organizations to remove debris and take emergency protective measures.
Oklahoma's Employment Security Commission has disbursed $9,476 to 56 applicants under the disaster unemployment assistance program, which provides weekly payments to individuals unemployed because of the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm workers, farm and ranch owners, and others ineligible under regular unemployment insurance programs. The deadline to apply for disaster unemployment insurance is June 8 in Caddo, Cleveland, Creek, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie and Tulsa counties. The deadline is June 10 in Canadian, Craig, LeFlore, Noble and Ottawa counties. Applicants should contact their local Workforce Oklahoma office.
In addition to the expenditures, the six Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) have handled 6,153 visits from disaster victims who wanted to meet face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists. The following is a breakdown of recovery center visits:
| DRC | Activity to Date |
| Bridge Creek | 696 |
| Dover (opened June 2) | 10 |
| Midwest City | 2,814 |
| Moore | 1,621 |
| Mulhall | 190 |
| Oklahoma City | 822 |
| Total | 6,153 |
To date, 8,898 Oklahomans in the 16 counties eligible for individual assistance have applied for help. The county figures:
| Caddo | 14 | Lincoln | 193 |
| Canadian | 46 | Logan | 266 |
| Cleveland | 3,605 | McClain | 203 |
| Craig | 62 | Noble | 45 |
| Creek | 88 | Oklahoma | 3,555 |
| Grady | 435 | Ottawa | 71 |
| Kingfisher | 154 | Pottawatomie | 106 |
| LeFlore | 5 | Tulsa | 50 |
6,146 calls were received at the FEMA Helpline (800-525-0321, TTY 800-660-8005).
Private contractors and the Army Corps of Engineers have removed 964,170 cubic yards of debris, 58 percent of the estimated 1.65 million cubic yards to be cleared.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-Dec-2003 17:42:19