FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2016
State of Oklahoma Requests Major Disaster
Declaration for December Storm
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Governor Mary Fallin today announced the state of Oklahoma has
requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government related to
the winter storm, ice, sleet and flooding that began Dec. 26.
Fallin requested individual assistance for homeowners, renters and
business owners in nine counties, as well as public assistance to aid municipalities, counties,
rural electric cooperatives and the state with infrastructure repairs and costs
associated with responding to the storm in 41 counties.
The nine counties included in the request for individual assistance are:
Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Mayes, McCurtain, Muskogee, Ottawa, Pushmataha
and Sequoyah.
The 41 counties are included in the request for public
assistance are: Adair, Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cherokee,
Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Grady, Grant, Greer,
Harmon, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Latimer, McCurtain,
McIntosh, Major, Mayes, Muskogee, Noble, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pittsburg,
Pushmataha, Roger Mills, Sequoyah, Tilman, Washita and Woods.
Preliminary assessments indicate 108 homes were destroyed and 99 others were damaged as a result of the storms. Additionally, an estimated $48 million in infrastructure damages and response
costs have been identified in these counties.
The storm resulted in power outages for more than 200,000 homes
and businesses statewide, numerous road closures and dangerous travel
conditions in some areas. The storm is blamed for at least four deaths and 104
injuries.
If approved, additional counties may be added to the request at a
later date should conditions warrant.
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