State to Appeal FEMA Denial of Assistance

The State of Oklahoma is preparing an appeal of the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deny individual assistance for citizens whose property suffered damage in the floods of late December.

FEMA’s denial covered nine eastern Oklahoma counties – Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Mayes, McCurtain, Muskogee, Ottawa and Pushmataha.

For that reason, Steve Rutherford, Sequoyah County Emergency Management director, is asking those who had damage to their homes or businesses to submit their information on the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management website.

Rutherford said, “If you had damages during the flooding, please contact Oklahoma Emergency Management on their website at OEM.OK.Gov. On the far right side of their home page you will find a column with the heading “Announcements.” The first item in that list is on this subject. You can click there and send the information to OEM. They will need your name, address of the affected home or property, your phone number, photos of the damage if you have them, description of the damages and any applicable flood insurance information.”

The information should be submitted within the next two weeks Rutherford said Wednesday.

To learn more about the appeal contact Rutherford at his office at 918-775-1216 or his cell at 918-776-3787.

Rutherford said much of the flood damage was in the Moffett area where 14 residences were destroyed or damaged.

FEMA did approve assistance to local governments – towns, cities and counties – for flood damage.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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