President Declares Major Disaster for Oklahoma
Release Date: May 9, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-069
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the President declared a major disaster exists in the state of Oklahoma and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of April 9-28, 2008.
FEMA Administrator David Paulison said that the President's action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Adair, Caddo, Coal, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Logan, Love, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Tillman, and Wagoner counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Paulison named Justin A. Dombrowski as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Dombrowski said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 09-May-2008 20:42:52