Government Approves Assistance For Storm Victims

Friday, August 24th 2007, 7:52 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ President Bush issued a major disaster declaration for Oklahoma on Friday and ordered federal aid be made available for three Oklahoma counties that were pounded by deadly flooding, tornadoes and other severe weather, Governor Brad Henry announced Friday.

Residents in Blaine, Caddo and Kingfisher counties are now eligible to apply for federal assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, disaster unemployment assistance and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs, Henry said in a news release.

Individuals and businesses also will be able to receive low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to repair or replace damaged property.

R. David Paulison, the administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Philip E. Parr as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area, Bush said in the declaration.

As damage assessments are completed across the state, Henry said he will request additional counties be added to the federal declaration for individual assistance.

Public assistance to help cities, towns and counties make infrastructure repairs also will be requested, the governor said.

``This is a good first step as Oklahoma recovers and rebuilds after the storms, but other areas were hard hit and will need help as well,'' Henry said. ``We will continue to conduct damage assessments and push for the federal aid our citizens deserve.''