Ten Additonal Counties Eligible For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: May 22, 2003
Release Number: 1465-20
» More Information on Oklahoma Severe Storms and Tornadoes
Oklahoma City, OK -- State and federal officials announce that disaster assistance is now available for 10 additional Oklahoma counties. These counties incurred disaster damages from the severe storms and tornadoes that began on May 8. Federal/state disaster assistance is now available for the counties of Carter, Delaware, Kay, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Osage, Pontotoc, Roger Mills, Texas, and Washington. The county of Osage had previously been declared for Public Assistance only. The counties were added to the list of the eligible counties based on a review of damage data gathered by federal, state and local disaster recovery officials.
Residents and business owners in the affected counties can apply for a wide range of state and federal disaster assistance programs under the May 10 disaster declaration issued by President George W. Bush on May 10. The 10 counties join Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties, which brings the total to 19.
The additional counties are eligible for temporary housing assistance and housing repair, U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.
If you suffered damages to your home, call the FEMA registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing- impaired. You may call from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Each application is handled on a case-by-case basis.
The application process, which takes 15 to 20 minutes, is the starting point for a wide range of state, federal and voluntary disaster assistance programs.
Applicants should have the following information ready when they call:
- Name
- Current and damaged property address
- Gross family income
- Contact telephone numbers
- Insurance information
- A general list of damages and losses
- Social Security number
"We want those who have received disaster damage to get the help they need," said State Coordinating Officer Larry Culp. "Making that registration call is the first step on the road to recovery."
Last Modified: Tuesday, 03-Jun-2003 11:09:01