Two Weeks Left To Apply For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: March 22, 2002
Release Number: 1401-31
» More Information on Oklahoma Ice Storm
Oklahoma City, OK -- Oklahomans in the 45 disaster-designated counties have two weeks left to apply for disaster assistance if they suffered losses as a result of the January 30th ice storms.
The deadline is Monday, April 8.
Officials of the Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management (ODCEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urged ice storm victims to call the toll-free application number as soon as possible.
FEMA's toll-free application number is 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 are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST), Monday through Friday until April 8.
More Than $4 Million Issued
More than $4 million in disaster housing grants, low-interest disaster loans, and individual and family grants have been issued to 5,833 ice storm victims throughout the 45 disaster-designated counties (see attached chart) throughout the state.
According to figures released by ODCEM and FEMA at the close of business on March 21, the following numbers of people have applied for or received assistance:
25,656 Applications have been received
5,833 Disaster housing grants issued, totaling $2,536,342
5,531 Housing inspections issued
5,296 Housing inspections completed
2,804 Individual and Family Grant claims have been issued, totaling $472,817
12,259 SBA loan applications issued (8,905 home and 3,354 business)
320 SBA low-interest disaster loans approved, totaling $l,186,800
7,097 Individuals visited the Joint Disaster Recovery Centers
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA officials urge applicants to complete their loan paperwork as soon as possible, even if they have not received a final settlement from their insurance company. If the loan application is not returned, it will delay other forms of disaster assistance. Applicants who have questions about the loan packets may contact the SBA at 1-800-366-6303, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Voluntary Agencies Still Providing Assistance
AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) has assisted more than 250
affected families in Ponca City, Enid, Kingfisher, Cedar Lake, Oklahoma City,Yukon, Hinton, Ft. Cobb and El Reno with debris removal and clean up. Team members are focusing on the homes of elderly, disabled, and those with special needs.
Requests for debris removal assistance are being coordinated through a statewide debris hotline for other affected areas. The hotline, 1-800-539-8541, a collaborative effort of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (OKVOAD), is coordinating debris removal requests with AmeriCorps' NCCC, Mennonite Disaster Services and local faith-based groups.
| County | Applications Received |
County | Applications Received |
County | Applications Received |
| Alfalfa | 49 | Grady | 238 | Oklahoma | 3,402 |
| Beaver | 1 | Grant | 363 | Osage | 355 |
| Beckham | 136 | Greer | 27 | Pawnee | 13 |
| Blaine | 1,080 | Harmon | 1 | Payne | 105 |
| Caddo | 1,305 | Harper | 22 | Pottawatomie | 4 |
| Canadian | 2,967 | Jackson | 11 | Roger Mills | 27 |
| Cimarron | 0 | Kay | 3,231 | Rogers | 1 |
| Cleveland | 50 | Kingfisher | 1,848 | Stephens | 2 |
| Comanche | 3 | Kiowa | 393 | Texas | 2 |
| Creek | 3 | Lincoln | 4 | Tillman | 1 |
| Custer | 1,809 | Logan | 901 | Tulsa | 7 |
| Dewey | 134 | Major | 267 | Washington | 66 |
| Ellis | 24 | McClain | 20 | Washita | 890 |
| Garfield | 4,479 | Noble | 1,146 | Woods | 28 |
| Garvin | 4 | Nowata | 5 | Woodward | 132 |
| TOTAL | 25,656 |
Last Modified: Monday, 25-Aug-2003 16:17:06