Disaster funding update

It seems for the last several years Oklahoma communities have endured federally declared disasters requiring interaction with FEMA and State Emergency Management. Meeting all the required conditions for federal funds and lobbying the state legislature to make needed appropriations for the state’s 12.5 percent share has been time consuming and sometimes frustrating. We have taken your message to legislative leaders and there are several new developments to report.

State Developments:

•   FEMA Workshop. On Wednesday, March 31 we are planning a disaster workshop in Chickasha on meeting FEMA requirements for reimbursement. This will be a practical, hands-on presentation by municipal officials with actual experience on how to deal with FEMA including contracting, mutual aid, debris removal, assuring reimbursement and how to avoid future litigation.

•   $15 Million in Disaster Funding. Late Wednesday afternoon Senate republican and democrat leaders announced settlement of the budget impasse resulting in the $15 million in disaster funding moving off the senate floor. It was important for your legislators to hear directly from you how vital this funding is for your citizens.

Federal Developments:

•   Christmas Storm. A major federal disaster declaration was announced late last week for the Christmas Eve blizzard allowing federal help for the response and recovery efforts in 29 counties. The counties are Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Mayes, McClain, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman and Tulsa. The disaster is FEMA-1876-DR-OK.

    An Applicant Briefing schedule for potential applicants for disaster public assistance (PA) grants has been established around the state. The briefing will address application procedures, administrative requirements, funding, and program eligibility criteria. The Request for Public Assistance should be completed at the briefing. Any eligible entity must complete this application within 30 days from the date of the declaration. For FEMA-1876-DR-OK – the blizzards that occurred on December 24, 2009 – the 30-day deadline is March 26, 2010 For complete information click here: http://www.oml.org/npps/story.cfm?ID=1915.

•   January Ice Storm.  The White House announced that it had approved Gov. Brad Henry’s request for a major disaster declaration for the Jan. 28 ice storm. Under the declaration, 25 counties will receive public assistance for expenses related to response and recovery efforts for the crippling winter storm. The counties are: Alfalfa, Caddo, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Delaware, Dewey, Ellis, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Kiowa, LeFlore, McClain, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Stephens and Washita. Already preliminary damage estimates exceed $69 million. Damage surveys continue in other counties throughout the state.  As they reach the federal threshold for relief, a request will be made to add additional counties to the disaster declaration.  Today’s announcement adds to the disaster assistance already granted under an emergency declaration approved Jan. 30. The emergency declaration delivered federal resources during response to the winter storm. These resources included industrial size generators, bottled water, cots and blankets.