Oklahomans Have Less than Two Weeks to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the May 5 through June 22 storms have less than two weeks to register for state and federal disaster assistance.

Homeowners, renters and businesses in 45 counties approved for Individual Assistance have until August 26 to seek assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The designated counties are Adair, Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kiowa, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa and Wagoner.

To date, more than $44.9 million has been provided to Oklahoma disaster survivors. This assistance includes $16.5 million in funding for disaster related housing needs and other disaster related expenses, more than $18.7 in SBA loans, and more than $9.7 million in payments to survivors through the National Flood Insurance Program.

SBA has issued 1,463 applications for low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and businesses. More than $16.9 million has been approved for homeowners, and more than $1.7 million in loans has been approved for business owners rebuilding after the storms.

There have been more than 10,445 total registrations for assistance. There are several ways to register for assistance. Call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov, using a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Once survivors have registered they may have questions about the process. All questions can be answered either face-to-face at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or by calling the FEMA Helpline. There have been 4,329 visitors to mobile and fixed-site DRCs.

To find the recovery center nearest you visit http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. DRCs are one-stop shops where survivors can get information and guidance on the disaster assistance that may be available.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4222 or visit OEM at www.oem.ok.gov.