Friday, January 17, 2014
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the State of Oklahoma has requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government related to the Dec. 5-12 winter storm.
If approved, the designation would deliver federal funding to assist municipalities, counties, rural electric cooperatives and the state with infrastructure repairs and costs associated with responding to the storm.
Counties included in the request are Choctaw, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pushmataha.
According to preliminary damage assessments, the storm resulted in an estimated $6.5 million in infrastructure damage and response costs.
“Cities, towns and counties in that area especially need federal assistance to help with some of the expense of infrastructure repairs and costs associated with their response to last month’s winter storm,” Fallin said.
The storm resulted in extended power outages for more than 10,000 homes and businesses as well as treacherous travel conditions. The storm also is blamed for 10 deaths and more than 800 injuries.
Numerous schools and businesses closed because of the storm, some for nearly a week.
Additional counties may be added to the request at a later date should conditions warrant.