Almost $3 Million Issued To Applicants; Ice Storm Victims Have One Month Left To Apply 

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