17 Counties Named In Federal Disaster Declaration

Thursday, June 7th 2007, 4:42 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Seventeen Oklahoma counties that were hit hard by tornadoes and flooding during a series of severe storms last month have been approved for federal disaster assistance, Governor Brad Henry said Thursday.

Preliminary damage estimates indicate storms that swept across the state May 4-11 caused $4.8 million in damage to municipalities, counties and rural electric systems, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

Counties approved for public assistance are: Atoka, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Comanche, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Kay, Kiowa, Lincoln, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills and Seminole. The counties are eligible to receive federal assistance for the cost of their storm response and recovery, Henry said.

Eight other counties that were included in the state's disaster declaration request were not approved. The counties are Bryan, Canadian, Garfield, Grady, Hughes, Logan, McIntosh and Woodward.

Although the counties did not meet the threshold for financial assistance, emergency management officials said they believe more damage will be identified in ongoing damage assessments.