FEMA Denies Henry's Appeal

Federal officials have formally denied Oklahoma’s appeal for individual assistance in the December ice storm, according to the governor’s office.

Governor Henry called the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency disappointing and frustrating. “We worked with the FEMA coordinator on site to compile our aid request and documented the appropriate damages, all of which are reimbursable under federal guidelines,” said the governor. “We felt we met all of the necessary thresholds, but FEMA still said no, not once but twice. Oklahoma ice storm victims did not get a fair shake on disaster assistance.”

Share |

Debris Hauling Update: Henry To Extend Waiver

A spokesman for Governor Brad Henry says the governor expects to sign another waiver to exempt big trucks from certain state permits so they can continue hauling ice storm debris.
The first waiver was signed December 10th and expired last week.

Oklahoma City radio station KTOK reported earlier today that since the original waiver expired, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers have issued warning tickets to out-of-state contractors who didn't have the permits, which cost about $7,500.

Share |

FEMA Denies Individual Assistance Request; Henry Reported 'Outraged,' Expresses Disappointment

Governor Henry, reportedly "outraged," said today he is deeply disappointed and frustrated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Oklahoma’s request for individual assistance for people hit hard by last month’s deadly ice storm.

Henry said the state will appeal the decision.

“I don’t understand how FEMA could assess the extensive damages from that ice storm and not conclude the obvious,” he said. “This was a storm of historic proportions that caused damage to both public property and private property. With more than 13,000 damage reports received by the state, individual assistance is certainly justified.”

On January 9, Henry requested individual assistance for Oklahoma and Tulsa counties, although state emergency management officials had indicated that additional counties would be added if the request was approved. Henry said he and state emergency management officials knew the request could be denied in light of Oklahoma’s experience with the January 2007 ice storm, in which FEMA had also denied individual assistance. “But we remained optimistic,” he said. “After receiving nine presidential disaster declarations in one year, which included back-to-back flooding events, ice and snow storms, we felt the case for additional assistance had been made.

“The ice storm was a full-fledged catastrophe. It knocked out power to more than 640,000 Oklahoma homes and businesses, many of which were not able to have power restored for more than a week. The disaster resulted in at least 29 deaths. If the ice storm did not warrant federal assistance for the many Oklahomans who were impacted, then nothing does.”

On two other occasions in the past eight years, individual assistance was granted for winter storms that were no more severe than the one that crippled much of Oklahoma in December. President Bush last month granted Henry’s request for public assistance to 25 counties impacted by the storm. Under that declaration, federal assistance is available for expenses related to infrastructure damage including roads, bridges and public facilities, as well as the costs of debris removal.

Share |

Henry Wants Individual Storm Assistance

Governor Henry has asked federal authorities to provide individual assistance to Oklahomans impacted by December’s catastrophic ice storm. While the initial request is for Oklahoma and Tulsa counties, more counties will be added to the request if individual assistance is approved.

Share |

Henry Asks That 18 More Counties Receive Aid

Governor Henry today requested that 18 more Oklahoma counties receive federal disaster aid to assist with infrastructure damage caused by last week’s ice storm.

Already, seven Oklahoma counties are declared for public assistance under the major disaster declaration that President Bush granted earlier this week. If this latest request is approved, the additional counties will receive federal funding to assist local governments with repairs to roads, bridges and public facilities, debris removal as well as the costs associated with responding to the ice storm.

Henry said he is confident the Federal Emergency Management Agency will add the 18 counties to the existing declaration.

“Numerous communities statewide received extensive damages in the wake of the ice storm,” he said. “Public assistance is an important step toward recovery. I am thankful that President Bush and FEMA have been so supportive during this challenging time for Oklahoma, and I anticipate that this request will receive the same level of attention.”

The requested counties are: Beaver, Caddo, Canadian, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Grady, McClain, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Seminole and Washington.

Already declared for public assistance are Cleveland, Lincoln, Mayes, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Tulsa and Wagoner counties.

As additional preliminary damage assessments are completed, more counties will be requested to receive public assistance.

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continue to document damage to homes and business that will be used to support a request for individual assistance. Residents and business owners with uninsured ice-storm damages are urged to go online at http://www.oem.ok.gov/. Already, the state has received more than 8,500 reports from individuals and business owners.

Share |

Fallin Lauds Storm Recovery Effort Workers

Congresswoman Mary Fallin spoke on the House floor today to thank utility workers, volunteers, charities and others for their assistance during last week's ice storm and the recovery efforts since. The storm killed more than 20 people and left a large portion of the state without power.

Fallin’s remarks are below:

“Madam Speaker, as you know, this past week the state of Oklahoma experienced a severe ice storm that left over 600,000 homes and businesses without power or heat. As you can imagine, Oklahomans had a very challenging week.

“Today I would like to thank the people of Oklahoma for helping each other and commend the generous people and organizations that came to our aid.

“Since the disaster of the Murrah Federal Building in 1995, the people of my Great State are said to have created what is now known as “The Oklahoma Standard,” rallying to help each other in times of need. This was no exception.

“I thank Governor Brad Henry and President Bush for working together to ensure that we receive federal disaster relief.

“I would like to commend the state office of Emergency Management, FEMA representatives, and state Corporation Commission, who kept us informed and on track as power loss was reported and power was restored.

“I especially want to express my gratitude to the utility crews who worked tirelessly in their efforts to restore power, and I want to thank the hundreds of utility workers from other states who came to help. Thank you for leaving your homes and families to help Oklahoma.

“There are so many other organizations to thank, including churches, synagogues and charities. The Southern Baptist Convention, United Way of Central Oklahoma, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, to name just a few, worked to provide food, shelter and other supplies, and all went beyond their usual call of duty to clear the road to recovery.

“I thank all of them, Madam Speaker, and I thank the resilient, wonderful people of Oklahoma who always come together to help each other and show the world 'The Oklahoma Standard.'"

Share |

Bush Approves Major Disaster Declaration

President Bush today granted Governor Henry’s request for a major disaster declaration for seven Oklahoma counties impacted by last week’s ice storm.

Henry noted that more counties will be added to the declaration as damage assessment surveys continue across the state.

Henry praised President Bush for granting the December 15 request: “This public assistance approved by the President will help cities, towns and counties in their response and recovery efforts,” the Governor said. “Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans know all too well that the ice storm was of historic proportions. Federal assistance is deserved and needed for numerous communities throughout our state, and I am grateful to the President for his quick response.”

The declaration means public assistance will be available for expenses related to infrastructure damage including roads, bridges and public facilities, as well as the costs of debris removal.

Counties now covered are Cleveland, Lincoln, Mayes, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Tulsa and Wagoner.

Henry noted that more counties will be added upon the completion of ongoing damage assessments. He said Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management officials are also continuing surveys to build the state’s anticipated request to the President for Individual Assistance. Residents and business owners who have uninsured ice storm damages are urged to call the toll-free Oklahoma Damage Assessment Hotline (866) 560-7584 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.

Images courtesy the Tulsa World, The Oklahoman.

Share |

Worthen Warns Entities On Debris Contractors

State Rep. Trebor Worthen is cautioning Oklahoma counties and municipalities affected by recent ice storms to make sure any contracts for debris removal are in line with federal guidelines. Otherwise, they may not qualify for federal funds to help pay for the cleanup.

“In the coming days and weeks, there will be cities and counties all across the state that have to contract with private firms to clean up all the limbs and other debris from these ice storms,” said Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. “By keeping the FEMA guidelines in mind, city and county officials will be able to recoup a lot of the cleanup costs after this is all over.”

When selecting a firm for debris removal following a natural disaster, a multitude of factors should be considered, Worthen said. If the wrong contractor is selected and FEMA funds are de-obligated due to their action or inaction, the financial impact on the municipality can be devastating.

Following natural disasters, Worthen said, many firms who otherwise are not in the debris removal business determine that it is now their primary focus. It is important to select a contractor that has experience working with FEMA, as well as a lengthy track record of completing debris removal projects, he added.

Share |

State A Major Disaster Area, Henry Says

Governor Brad Henry has asked President George Bush for a major disaster declaration for an initial seven Oklahoma counties devastated by the ice storm. As more damage assessments are completed, requests will be made for additional counties to be declared.

If approved, cities, towns and counties impacted by last weekend’s ice storm will receive public assistance for expenses related to response and recovery efforts. Gov. Henry noted that preliminary damage assessments continue in counties throughout the state. “The ice storm that swept through Oklahoma last weekend has been nothing short of catastrophic,” the Governor said.

Share |

Ice Storm Wreaks Havoc

This week's ice storm has left Oklahoma City looking like a battle zone. It's also crippled TMRO and many other sites, as electricity has yet to be restored. As the power outages mount and insurance estimators begin to calculate the damge, these developments:

1 - Governor Brad Henry, on vacation in Hawaii when the storm hit, booked his return to Oklahoma as Lt. Governor Jari Askins declared the entire state a disaster area. 2 - OG&E, PSO, OEC and other power providers report outages are the worst ever. The difference in this storm and others appears to be that it "trained" freezing rain over the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas as well as the rest of the state; past storms hit rural areas and some cities. 3 - On Monday afternoon, 70 percent of Tulsa was without power. In Oklahoma City, OG&E reported about 295,000 customers were without power. 4 - It appears it could be a week to 10 days before power is restored to all customers.

Share |

FEMA Stonewalls, Coburn Demands Explanation

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claims it can't release information about why it denied individual assistance to Oklahoma after last winter's ice storms and Senator Tom Coburn is demanding an explanation. He says FEMA's failure to explain its reasons for denying aid is unacceptable.

The request for FEMA aid was made by Governor Brad Henry.

A FEMA administrator said the request was denied because it was determined the state could adequately respond to the damage from the ice storm.

Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for Henry, says the application for assistance made a strong, clear case. He said state officials are baffled by FEMA's denial.

Share |

FEMA Does It Again; Henry Reacts

Governor Brad Henry expressed disbelief and disappointment today after hearing of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of the state’s appeal for individual assistance for those recovering from January’s ice storms.

“Obviously, I am extremely disappointed,” Henry said. “It is stunning that they would deny our request when they have granted individual assistance in the past under similar circumstances.”

FEMA earlier this month denied the state’s original request for individual assistance and the governor immediately appealed the decision. Public assistance has been granted for 44 affected counties.

“The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, our state’s entire congressional delegation and I have all stressed to FEMA our need for individual assistance in the affected counties, backing up our request with hard figures documenting damages suffered by individuals” the governor said. “That FEMA would continue to deny Oklahomans needed assistance is unconscionable, and I will continue to do all I can to get help for those most affected by the ice storms.”

Share |

Henry: State Will Appeal FEMA Ruling

Governor Brad Henry said today he is disappointed and frustrated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied individual assistance to eastern Oklahoma counties hit hard by January ice storms. Although FEMA had already granted public assistance for 42 impacted counties, the agency determined that individual assistance was not warranted. Henry said the state will appeal FEMA’s decision.

Share |

FEMA Approves 20 More Counties For Assistance

Governor Brad Henry announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved 20 additional Oklahoma counties for public assistance in the aftermath of winter storms that hit the state earlier this year. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management requested last week that the counties be added to 22 counties that had already been approved for such federal aid. The new counties are Alfalfa, Canadian, Comanche, Dewey, Garvin, Grant, Greer, Jackson, Jefferson, Kay, Lincoln, Osage, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Tillman, Tulsa, Washington, Washita and Woods.

Share |

Lawmakers Urge Southwest Disaster Declaration

State lawmakers representing southwest Oklahoma today urged Governor Brad Henry to include Comanche and Tillman counties in his request for a major federal disaster declaration.

"Given how much damage the ice storms did in southwest Oklahoma, there's no reason the state shouldn't seek federal aid for those communities," said Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon. "We've had entire communities without power for days and our infrastructure has taken a beating. Our communities need all the help they can get."

Following recent ice storms, Henry requested a federal disaster declaration for much of eastern Oklahoma, but hard-hit counties in the southwest were not included, the lawmakers noted.

"The recent ice storms have done real damage in southwest Oklahoma and I believe a federal disaster declaration is easily justified," said Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs. "The more assistance we can obtain, the faster we can rebuild."

"The ice storm was crippling for local communities and constituents, and many are still recovering," said Rep. T. W.Shannon, R-Lawton. "Some communities, like Grandfield, were without power for a week."

"The ice storm created serious problems across southwest Oklahoma, damaging roads and power lines and forcing schools to close for days," said state Rep. Ann Coody, R-Lawton. "The Lawton school system, which is the biggest in our area, was forced to close for a week because the roads were so bad."

"That much ice causes lots of problems that can take months or even years to address," said Armes. "If Governor Henry will act quickly and request a disaster declaration, we can shorten that time frame considerably."

Share |

Cargill Endorses State Ice Storm Assistance

After spending time in Muskogee today and seeing first-hand the damage caused there by the recent ice storms, House Speaker Lance Cargill has endorsed a plan to set aside at least $10 million in "Rainy Day" spillover funds to help pay recovery costs for the entire state. FEMA officials have yet to determine the exact dollar amount of aid the state will be required to pay to assist Oklahomans affected by the ice storms that blanketed much of the state in the last two weeks.

Share |

Dorman, Proctor Ask For Ice Funds

State Reps. Joe Dorman and Eric Proctor today called on legislative leaders to approve an estimated $22 million in emergency funding for ice storm recovery "as soon as possible" when the Legislature convenes in February.

Share |

Holland Declares State Of Emergency

State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland has declared a state of emergency for insurance purposes, clearing the way for out-of-state insurance adjusters to begin helping those afflicted by the winter storm.

Her declaration grants out-of-state adjusters 90-day licenses to work with Oklahoma insurance companies work claims.

Earlier, Governor Brad Henry declared the entire state a disaster area and asked President Bush to issue a federal declaration; he did so in short order.

Share |