Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance is Quickly Approaching

OKLAHOMA CITY – The deadline to register for state and federal disaster assistance for the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred between May 18 and June 2 is quickly approaching.

Monday, Aug. 19 is the last day that homeowners, renters and business owners can register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Survivors can do so by calling (800) 621-3362, registering online at disasterassistance.gov, or using a smartphone typing in m.fema.gov.

More than 15,000 households have already registered and more than $54.3 million in disaster assistance has already been approved.

Disaster assistance is available in the designated counties of Canadian, Cleveland, LeFlore, Lincoln, McClain, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie for eligible survivors who suffered uninsured and underinsured losses from the spring storms.

Aid may include housing assistance grants to help pay for temporary housing and home repairs, other disaster-related needs for personal property replacement or to pay for other necessary disaster-related expenses, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. The deadline for submitting an SBA application is also Monday, Aug. 19.

“If you have storm damage, please register with FEMA before the deadline. We want to ensure that everyone who is eligible receives assistance for their losses,” said Michelann Ooten, State Coordinating Officer and Deputy Director with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

An SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center remains open at the Moore Norman Technology Center located at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday until further notice. SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance completing applications, answering questions and assisting with loan closings.

Survivors who have already registered with FEMA but have additional questions or need to complete their registration process with more information or documentation should simply stay in touch with FEMA; this support is available even after the Aug. 19 deadline. 

“While applying is the first step, you still should follow up on your application and continue to update your contact information,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman.

Media Note: For interviews with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and FEMA senior officials, please contact the News Desk at (405) 616-2918.

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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.

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.

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.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.