NEWS RELEASE

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 9, 2008

Oklahoma City – In the wake of last month’s flood damage, Gov. Brad Henry announced today that the White House has approved federal public assistance for 10 Oklahoma counties. The federal disaster declaration will help municipal and county governments pay for an estimated $8.8 million in infrastructure repairs and response costs related to flooding in the counties of Alfalfa, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Grant, Harper, Kay, Major, Woods and Woodward.

Moreover, the Governor also announced this afternoon that U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance will be made available for individuals and businesses in Kay County and the surrounding areas of Garfield, Grant, Noble and Osage counties.

“This is welcome news for Oklahomans who were hit hard by last month’s flooding,” Gov. Henry said. “Federal public assistance will help cities, towns and counties recover from the storms, while the SBA loans will go a long way toward helping individuals and businesses get back on their feet.”

The declarations for both SBA assistance and public assistance cover flooding that occurred between September 11 and September 18. Other counties can be added to the declaration for public assistance as additional information becomes available.

Under the SBA assistance, any homeowner, renter or business owner in the aforementioned counties who sustained uninsured flooding damage can apply for a low-interest, long-term disaster loan.

Today’s announcement comes days after the White House denied individual assistance to the region.

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