Henry Seeks Further Federal Flood Assistance

Governor Brad Henry today asked for another round of federal disaster assistance, this time to help state and local governments with costs associated with flood-damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The governor has already requested individual assistance for citizens in several hard-hit areas. In today’s request, Henry asked federal authorities to declare 17 Oklahoma counties disaster areas for purposes of public assistance. If approved, the designation would deliver federal funding to assist cities, towns and counties with infrastructure repairs and costs associated with responding to flooding, tornadoes and other severe weather. The requested counties are: Bryan, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Hughes, Jefferson, Kiowa, Logan, McIntosh, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman.

Later in the day, federal authorities added three additional counties for individual assistance related to recent flooding and severe weather. Citizens in Comanche, Pottawatomie and Nowata 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 prograns. Low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property.

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