FEMA Assistance

Tuesday, January 16th 2007, 8:42 pm

By: News On 6

President Bush quickly approved an emergency disaster declaration for Oklahoma. But what exactly does a disaster declaration mean? And what does it mean to people hit hard by our winter storm?

News on 6 anchor Craig Day has those answers.

Lots of storm victims have questions when going through a disaster like our ice storm. FEMA is working to help by concentrating on three areas warmth, water and helping Oklahoma emergency workers help you.

When you don't have electricity, and the hours turn to days, and those days may last a week or more, a helping hand is appreciated. FEMA is in Oklahoma with help. 100 generators are being distributed to communities across the state. Those generators will provide power to shelters, public water services, police and firefighters and other emergency agencies. FEMA also has thousands of bottles of water.

An initial emergency disaster declaration, like the one Oklahoma is under, covers public assistance. That means state and local agencies can get federal reimbursement of 75 percent of disaster related costs.

But what about individual people who have been severely impacted by the winter storm. Maybe folks who have damage or don't have electricity?" State emergency workers say in most cases, FEMA's individual assistance declaration would come later.

Crews do damage assessments, generally on a county-by-county basis to see if the expanded disaster declaration is needed. FEMA would look at a number of factors, including the scope of the damage, insurance coverage, and individual hardships.

So FEMA says generators will not go to individuals, only to municipalities and emergency crews. If an individual assistance declaration is approved by the President, it would likely come in the next week.