More Than $6.8 Million in Federal Grants Awarded for Schools Impacted by May 2013 Tornadoes

DENTON, Texas — A year-and-a-half after tornadoes and severe storms ripped through central Oklahoma, recovery efforts are still under way. Grants totaling nearly $7 million have recently been awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Public Assistance grants will fund the repair and replacement of numerous educational structures damaged and destroyed by the tornadoes.

Nearly $3.5 million will cover the rebuilding of several facilities on the Canadian Valley Technology Center main campus in El Reno. One of the buildings will contain campus offices, student services, an event center, and high school and adult student programs. A second building will be reconstructed to contain Canadian Valley District administrative offices and two adult student programs. Both buildings will include safe rooms to shelter students and staff. 

More than $3.3 million has been awarded for Moore Public School District as reimbursement for construction of Briarwood Elementary School, Plaza Towers Elementary School and Highland East Junior High School, which were destroyed on May 20, 2013.

“The spring of 2013 was a horrific time for Oklahomans, but the hard work and determination we’ve seen since then has been amazing,” said OEM Director Albert Ashwood. “We continue to work with FEMA, local emergency managers, other state, local and federal agencies, as well as voluntary organizations to help ensure the best possible recovery for these communities.”

“Central Oklahoma suffered tragic losses from the tornadoes of May 2013,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “It’s so important to rebuild public schools, and re-establish safe, permanent places for children to learn and thrive in their communities. We are proud to support our state and local partners as they continue to rebuild their lives and communities.”

These grants bring the total amount of federal disaster Public Assistance to more than $45 million for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and infrastructure repair and replacement. For more information about the disaster response and recovery to Oklahoma’s severe storms and tornadoes in May 2013, please visit www.oem.ok.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4117.

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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.  Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.