NEWS RELEASE

Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol – Oklahoma City OK 73105
405-521-2342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 10/6/2008

Oklahoma City – The White House today denied Gov. Brad Henry’s request for flood assistance to aid individuals and businesses that were hard hit by storms last month in northern Oklahoma. A request for public assistance is still pending.

The governor had sought individual assistance for five counties: Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Major and Woods. Such a disaster declaration would have provided federal aid to individuals and businesses that suffered uninsured losses because of flood waters.

“I am very disappointed that the White House has denied individual aid to flood victims in northern Oklahoma,” said Gov. Henry. “I thought we made a very strong case for federal support.

“We are also seeking public assistance to repair roads and other infrastructure in the region, and we will continue to push for that aid in the days to come.”

Gov. Henry is seeking public assistance for 10 counties: Alfalfa, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Grant, Harper, Kay, Major, Woods and Woodward. They incurred an estimated $8.8 million in infrastructure damage and response costs as a result of the September floods.

A federal disaster declaration for public assistance would deliver federal funding to assist cities, towns and counties with infrastructure repairs and costs associated with their response to last month’s flooding.

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