Release Date: March 8, 2002
Release Number: 1401-26
» More Information on Oklahoma Ice Storm
Oklahoma City, OK -- Almost $3 million in disaster housing grants, low-interest disaster loans, and individual and family grants have been issued to more than 20 percent of the 24,253 applicants. Disaster officials also reminded ice storm victims throughout the 45 designated counties (see attached chart) they have one month left to apply before the April 8th deadline.
According to figures released by the Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management (ODCEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the close of business on March 7, the following numbers of people have applied for or received assistance:
* 24,253 Applications have been received * 5,163 Disaster housing grants issued, totaling $2,159,915 * 4,507 Housing inspections issued * 4,396 Housing inspections completed * 231 Individual and Family Grant claims have been issued, totaling $129,797 * 11,574 SBA loan applications issued (8,424 home and 3,150 business) * 181 SBA low-interest disaster loans approved, totaling $674,900 * 6,059 Individuals have visited one of the Joint Disaster Recovery Centers
WEATHERFORD DRC CLOSES NEXT FRIDAY; OTHER DRCS TO CLOSE MARCH 16
The joint state/federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Weatherford will close at 7 p.m., Friday, March 15, due to a previous Saturday commitment at the National Guard Armory, but the other three DRCs will remain open through Saturday, March 16. More than 6,000 individuals have visited one of the temporary centers to meet face-to-face with representatives from various assistance agencies to find out more about disaster assistance and recovery programs.
Although closed on Sunday, the centers will reopen Monday, March 11, and be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. These changes are the result of reduced activity at the centers.
The centers are located at:
* El Reno National Guard Armory, 2600 Malone Drive * Enid National Guard Armory, 600 East Elm * Ponca City Hutchins Memorial Auditorium, 5th and Overbrook * Weatherford National Guard Armory, 223 West Rainey Avenue
TOLL-FREE APPLICATION NUMBERS AVAILABLE MONDAYS THRU SATURDAYS
Those affected by the ice storm are reminded that the way to apply for assistance is by calling FEMA's toll-free application number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). There is also a special toll-free number for the speech or hearing impaired, (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.
Both numbers will be closed on Sundays, but are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday until April 8.
These numbers may also be used for applicants to check on the status of their application or to update claim information, without going to one of the Disaster Recovery Centers. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Monday, April 8.
SECOND TREE CARE WORKSHOP SET FOR WEATHERFORD
The second of a series of Tree Care Workshops will be held at Blair Hall in the Weatherford City Hall, 522 W. Rainey, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12th. Paul Johnson, a horticulture educator with the Oklahoma County Extension Service, will discuss proper pruning techniques, storm-damaged tree repair, and planting area-specific trees. There will also be a question and answer session to address specific needs, and some tree care publications will be available.
MARCH 13 DEADLINE SET FOR DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Ice storm victims, including those who are self-employed, have until Wednesday, March 13th to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). FEMA provides 100 percent of the funding for DUA, which is administered by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.
Individuals who were living or working in one of the 45 designated counties (see attached chart) at the time of the major disaster and who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may be eligible for DUA. The first payable week for DUA is the week beginning Feb. 3.
The program is specifically designed for those who would not normally qualify for unemployment. DUA applications will be taken for a 30-day period ending March 13. Please call 1-888-840-9675 to locate the nearest state employment office to file an application.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE TOTALS BY COUNTY (updated as of March 7) County Applications Received Alfalfa 45 Kiowa 368 Beaver 1 Lincoln 4 Beckham 130 Logan 874 Blaine 1,041 Major 250 Caddo 1,250 McClain 19 Canadian 2,832 Noble 1,097 Cimarron 0 Nowata 4 Cleveland 48 Oklahoma 3,074 Comanche 3 Osage 335 Creek 4 Pawnee 12 Custer 1,723 Payne 99 Dewey 124 Pottawatomie 4 Ellis 23 Roger Mills 25 Garfield 4,322 Rogers 1 Garvin 4 Stephens 2 Grady 226 Texas 2 Grant 340 Tillman 1 Greer 26 Tulsa 6 Harmon 0 Washington 63 Harper 21 Washita 860 Jackson 9 Woods 25 Kay 3,036 Woodward 127 Kingfisher 1,786 TOTAL 24,246
Last Modified: Monday, 25-Aug-2003 14:59:15