The disaster assistance benefits individuals and business owners impacted by severe weather that occurred from May 19-28 in Blaine, Caddo, Custer, Delaware, Jackson, Mayes, Muskogee, and Rogers counties.

The designation delivers assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.

“Although this disaster declaration took additional time to be approved, we are grateful that assistance will now be available to residents in Claremore, Salina, Colcord, and other areas impacted by recent tornadoes and severe weather,” said Governor Stitt.

To apply for disaster assistance, individuals and business owners in Blaine, Caddo, Custer, Delaware, Jackson, Mayes, Muskogee, and Rogers counties may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

In addition, the declaration grants public assistance for Blaine, Delaware, Mayes, and Rogers counties to assist municipalities, counties, rural electric cooperatives, the state and other public entities with debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and costs associated with responding to the storms.

The disaster declaration request was submitted to FEMA on June 5 after assessments found 1,118 homes damaged in eight counties, including 95 destroyed and 73 with major damage. The storms also caused at least $10.9 million in debris, utility damage, and infrastructure damage.

Additional counties may be added to the declaration as other damages are identified.