Published: May 24, 2008 01:59 pm      

FEMA says assistance on the way

Billie Jean Cohen stood amid the rubble that had once been her home in the rural Arch community southwest of Hartshorne, but her thoughts weren’t of herself.

Instead, her concerns were for her brother and sister-in-law, Geronimo and Lisa Cohen, who lived next door and who also lost their home when a tornado tore through the area two weeks ago.

“I hope they can get some help,” she said.

She spoke just minutes before several carloads of local, state and federal officials pulled up outside what little remained of the Cohens’ homes to do a preliminary damage assessment.

Now, help is coming for those who suffered losses because of the tornadoes.

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday asking for individual federal disaster assistance for victims of the May 10 tornadoes in three additional counties — including Pittsburg and Latimer counties in Southeastern Oklahoma.

Hours later, FEMA approved the request.

“I am extremely pleased that FEMA wasted no time granting my request for Oklahomans in these three counties hard-hit by tornadoes and severe weather from earlier this month,” Henry said.

The action occurred a day after a preliminary damage assessment team saw the tornado damage in Pittsburg and Latimer counties firsthand.

“It was clear to the individuals who did the preliminary damage assessments that the damage rose to the level of individual assistance,” Henry’s press secretary, Phil Bacharach, told the News-Capital.

FEMA’s designation now ensures assistance for housing repairs or for temporary housing.

It also makes low-interest loans available through the U.S. Small Business Administration for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, according to the governor’s office. Disaster unemployment assistance will also be available.

In addition, the program would offer grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.

The governor said individual assistance is greatly needed.

“The tornadoes that smashed through Oklahoma earlier this month left a path of devastation in several communities in the eastern section of Oklahoma,” Henry said.

“Many Oklahomans are in desperate need of help. Federal assistance is needed and deserved for these additional counties.”

Anyone with property losses related to storm damage from the May 10 tornado in Pittsburg and Latimer counties should call and report it to FEMA at 800-621-FEMA, according to State Emergency Management spokesperson Michelann Ooten.

Ooten had joined a team from the state Department of Emergency Management, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration which made a preliminary assessment of some of the storm damage in Yanush, Arch and Haywood on Thursday.

Pittsburg County Emergency Management Director Trent Myers had shown the group some of the worst storm damage in Arch and Haywood.

After the team members assessed the damage, they turned their reports in to the governor’s office, who subsequently made the request for individual FEMA assistance.

The individual assistance designation also includes Craig County, near Ottawa County in Northeastern Oklahoma, where a tornado struck Picher two weeks ago. FEMA approved Ottawa County for individual assistance on May 14.

Since then, more than 250 applications have already been received, according to the governor’s office.

Meanwhile, teams will continue to assess infrastructure damage throughout the state in connection with the May 10 tornadoes.

Henry anticipates asking FEMA for public assistance once sufficient damage assessment surveys are finished.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.