Disaster News
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
May 3, 2011
OKLAHOMANS RECEIVE MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE
OKLAHOMA CITY – Just a little over a week after Atoka County in Oklahoma was declared a federal disaster area following the April 14 tornado, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have disbursed more than $1 million in assistance to Oklahomans.
To date, more than $926,000 has been disbursed to Oklahomans for Housing Assistance and more than $78,000 in Other Needs Assistance (ONA) - which includes the repair or replacement of personal property damaged or destroyed during the disaster, transportation costs, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial costs.
“We are thrilled that Oklahomans are receiving their housing assistance so swiftly,” said State Coordinating Officer and Director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Albert Ashwood. “I encourage Atoka County residents impacted by the April 14th tornado to continue to register with FEMA to get the ball rolling on the assistance process.”
“We are working with our federal and state partners to make sure that survivors receive assistance as quickly as possible,” said Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) William J. Doran III. “The faster the survivors receive assistance, the sooner they can begin to rebuild their homes and lives.”
Residents can register for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 or by completing an application at www.disasterassistance.gov.
Housing assistance is provided to individuals and families in designated disaster areas whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. This assistance is not intended to restore damaged property to its condition before the disaster.
Storm survivors may also be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) if they lost work or earnings due to the storms. For more information, click www.fema.gov/assistance/process/additional.shtm
For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click on http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14132 or www.oem.ok.gov. Information can also be accessed via smart phone at m.fema.gov.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
