Disaster Aid Sought For Panhandle Counties

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry is requesting a federal disaster declaration from President Bush for three counties in the Oklahoma Panhandle.<br/><br/>Residents of Beaver, Cimarron and Texas

Wednesday, January 10th 2007, 6:04 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry is requesting a federal disaster declaration from President Bush for three counties in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Residents of Beaver, Cimarron and Texas counties are still recovering from two winter storms that caused widespread power outages, stranded motorists and threatened livestock.

If approved by the president, public entities affected by the December 19th ice storm and the December 29th snow storm will receive funds for expenses tied to response and recovery efforts.

Preliminary estimates show almost $6-million in damage to cities, counties and local electric and telephone systems.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative officials said 1,200 customers -- 500 residential and 700 non-residential -- remained without electricity yesterday. They said all residential customers would have power by Friday.

Tri-County Electric spokesman Roy Smothermon says the reconstruction process has been slowed by severely tangled wires buried in snow and mud.