The Federal government has again denied aid to nine eastern Oklahoma counties hit hard by flooding and a winter storm that started the day after Christmas last year. Governor Mary Fallin received the notification this week from Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate. His denial was to the governor’s appeal of FEMA’s original denial of aid to Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Mayes, McCurtain, Muskogee, Ottawa, Pushmataha and Sequoyah counties. FEMA had earlier approved storm aid and public assistance for 42 other counties in the state as well as 33 counties in Missouri and eleven in Arkansas.
“After a thorough review of all the information contained in your intial request and appeal, we reaffirm our original findings that the impact to individuals and households from this event was not of the severity and magnitude to warrant the implementation of the Individual assistance program under major disaster declaration. Therefore, I must inform you that your appeal for Individual Assistance is denie,” wrote Fugate.
