Appealing FEMA's Decision To Deny Aid

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma's congressmen are supporting the state's appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's decision denying individual assistance to those affected by January

Thursday, March 8th 2007, 8:39 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma's congressmen are supporting the state's appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's decision denying individual assistance to those affected by January ice storms.

The congressional delegation says in a letter to FEMA that it is wrong to deny federal assistance to individuals in the nine hardest-hit counties.

The letter is signed by both of the state's U.S. senators and all five members of the House of Representatives and says an estimated $5.7 million in aid is needed.

Congressman Dan Boren says he expects to find out by next week whether FEMA will change its decision.

Officials say 61% of those who had losses in the nine hardest-hit counties are either uninsured or underinsured.

The nine affected counties are Cherokee, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Pittsburg and Wagoner.

For more background on this story, click on the links below to read additional stories about FEMA.

1/16/2007 - FEMA Assistance

2/1/2007 - FEMA Approves Major Disaster Declaration

2/16/2007 - FEMA Completes Ice Storm Assessment

3/5/2007 - FEMA Says "No" To Individual Winter Storm Assistance