Oklahoma Counties Designated For Additional Public Assistance
Release Date: February 12, 2002
Release Number: 1401-07
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Oklahoma City, OK -- Disaster assistance for 19 counties has been expanded to include all categories of public assistance aid for local governments affected by the recent winter ice storm in Oklahoma, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said the additional assistance was approved following his review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. Under the original declaration issued by President Bush on February 1, 15 of these counties were designated for assistance with debris removal and emergency services related to the disaster. The other four counties were added to the declaration on February 7.
The new counties eligible for all categories of public assistance include Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Custer, Dewey, Grady, Grant, Greer, Jackson, Kay, Kiowa, Logan, Major, Noble, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Roger Mills, and Washington.
"Our continuing commitment is not only to help meet the recovery needs of devastated families and businesses," Allbaugh said, "but to ensure that the vital community services they also depend on are restored as quickly and efficiently as possible."
Under the expanded assistance, Allbaugh said affected local governments in the designated counties are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost for emergency services related to the disaster, debris removal, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities.
Procedures for requesting the assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings at locations to be announced shortly by state and federal disaster officials.
Last Modified: Monday, 25-Aug-2003 14:13:37