Latimer County Added as Declared Disaster County
Release Date: May 20, 1999
Release Number: 1272-26
» More Information on Oklahoma Tornadoes, Severe Storms, and Flooding
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Latimer County today was added to the list of Oklahoma counties designated for federal and state disaster help following the May 3-5 tornadoes, severe storms and flooding.
The county was declared eligible for the Public Assistance program, meaning that governments and certain non-profit organizations in the county are eligible for federal money for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken after the storm, and for money to help them rebuild road systems, public buildings and other public property.
Native American tribes in the county also are eligible for the funds, as are nonprofit organizations that operate essential governmental services - such as hospitals and utilities.
Nineteen Oklahoma counties now are eligible for some form of federal assistance following the tornadoes, storms and flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will pay 100 percent of the eligible governmental costs of debris removal through June 3 in the 17 counties designated for that assistance. In those counties, it also will pay 100 percent of the eligible costs of emergency protective measures local governments took after the storms, through May 7.
FEMA will pay 75 percent of the eligible costs to rebuild road systems, public buildings and other public and nonprofit properties in the 15 counties eligible for that assistance.
Sixteen counties are eligible for the Individual Assistance program. Residents and business owners in those counties may be eligible for disaster housing assistance, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to repair or replace storm-damaged property, or grants funded by FEMA and the state for serious needs not met by other programs.
The following is a list of all counties eligible for various assistance, to date:
Public assistance, for debris removal and emergency protective measures: Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Craig, Creek, Grady, Kingfisher, Latimer, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Noble, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Payne, Pottawatomie and Tulsa counties.
Public assistance, for rebuilding road systems, public buildings and other public and nonprofit properties: Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Craig, Grady, Kingfisher, Latimer, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Noble, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Payne and Pottawatomie counties. Individual Assistance: Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Craig, Creek, Grady, Kingfisher, LeFlore, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Noble, Oklahoma, Ottawa, Pottawatomie and Tulsa counties.
State government and local governments statewide also are eligible for federal money to help them pay for projects that prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural disasters.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-Dec-2003 17:48:18