May tornado, flooding victims in seven Oklahoma counties eligible for federal assistance
President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration Thursday for areas of Oklahoma affected by severe weather in May.
The declaration allows residents and business owners in areas affected by severe storms, including flooding and tornadoes, to access federal disaster assistance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The funding will supplement state, tribal and local funding for recovery for Oklahomans living in Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Tulsa counties.
Assistance like temporary housing and home repair grants and other disaster recovery programs, such as low-interest loans for uninsured losses, may be available, FEMA said.
Federal funding also has been approved for hazard mitigation measures statewide on a cost-sharing basis. Hazard mitigation is "any sustainable action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from future disasters," according to the FEMA website.
More: Tornado hits Seminole, Oklahoma, leaving damage, power outages
The declaration includes storms that occurred from May 2-8. Over the course of those days, several tornadoes touched down in the town of Seminole causing extensive damage. Tornadoes also were reported in the communities of Maud, Tecumseh and Earlsboro, while flooding in cities like Bixby, Okmulgee and Muskogee caused additional destruction. Throughout the seven counties named in the declaration, damaging high winds, heavy rain and hail created further problems.
Those who suffered losses can register to apply for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Seven Oklahoma counties eligible for disaster assistance from May storms
