May 17, 2024
The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to appropriate $45 million to help counties that have been ravaged by recent tornadoes.
One of those counties that will benefit includes Washita County after an EF-1 rated tornado damaged Cordell on April 30.
The Senate gave final passage to House Bill 2912 and House Bill 2913 that will help Oklahoma counties approved for FEMA disaster assistance recover and rebuild following the storms. The bills now advance to the governor’s desk.
HB 2912 creates a new revolving fund for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to provide “advanced financial liquidity” to local governments that have been approved for FEMA disaster assistance. This will allow the Department of Emergency Management to offer loans that will help local governments cover the costs of temporary housing and shelters, infrastructure repairs and other unexpected costs related to debris removal and recovery efforts. Local governments could also tap into these funds to offset revenue losses stemming from the storm damage and help cover the local 12.5% match needed to receive FEMA assistance.
HB 2913 appropriates $30 million to the new fund and $15 million to the State Emergency Fund to cover the match the state must put up to qualify for FEMA disaster assistance.
Other counties approved for funding assistance include Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage, and Pontotoc.
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