White House approves request for flood aid

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Governor Kevin Stitt announced recently that President Donald Trump has approved the state’s request for an emergency declaration for 10 Oklahoma counties.

Governor Stitt requested the first federal aid Friday afternoon and the White House approved the request less than 24 hours later.

Counties included in the emergency declaration are Haskell, Kay, Le Flore, Muskogee, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Sequoyah, Tulsa and Wagoner.

The declaration authorizes federal resources to assist state and local governments as they continue to respond to the widespread, significant flooding. These resources may include industrial-size generators, bottled water, cots and blankets.

State authorities will continue to assess the need for additional federal disaster aid to cover further response and recovery costs, including possible federal assistance for homeowners impacted by flooding. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is working with FEMA and local emergency management officials to secure all eligible assistance warranted by these dangerous floods.

“We appreciate the President’s prompt response to our request for federal aid and we will continue to stay in close touch with the White House and federal authorities as we try to help communities keep their residents safe from this deadly flooding,” Gov. Stitt said. “Many Oklahoma communities have been hit hard, and we will be doing everything possible to help them today in their time of need and in the weeks to come.”

Oklahoma remains under a statewide declaration of emergency.