Stitt seeks federal aid for McClain, Pottawatomie county residents affected by tornadoes

Josh Dulaney, Oklahoman
·2 min read
2
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday requested an expedited major disaster declaration from the federal government for McClain and Pottawatomie counties as a result of damage from devastating tornadoes and severe storms on April 19.

If the request is approved, those who suffered damage may be eligible for federal assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said in a news release.

A car is pictured upside down at a home on Kickapoo St., Thursday, April, 20, 2023, in Shawnee, Okla., after tornado moved through the area Wednesday night in Shawnee, Okla.
A car is pictured upside down at a home on Kickapoo St., Thursday, April, 20, 2023, in Shawnee, Okla., after tornado moved through the area Wednesday night in Shawnee, Okla.

The state’s request includes federal funding to assist municipalities, counties, tribal nations, state agencies and other eligible applicants in the two counties with debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storms.

ODEMHS reports an estimated $9 million dollars in response and debris removal costs in McClain and Pottawatomie counties.

Aerial damage assessments conducted by FEMA and spot-checked by ODEMHS and local officials found more than 2,000 homes and apartments impacted, including at least 231 that sustained major damage or were destroyed.

Damage assessments are ongoing and additional counties could later be added.

According to the National Weather Service in Norman, supercells across the state produced at least 12 tornadoes and hail 1-3 inches in diameter.

A strong and damaging tornado killed three people in McClain County near the town of Cole.

More tornadoes occurred near Tinker Air Force Base, Etowah, Pink, Bethel Acres and Shawnee.

Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. reported more than 600 broken power poles.

Early Sunday, about 78% of customer power had been restored. OG&E expects to have power restored to all of its customers by the end of day Wednesday.

Many of the remaining outages are in areas with heavy vegetation, impacting restoration times since vegetation crews must remove all trees and debris from the lines before rebuilding infrastructure, the utility company announced online.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stitt seeks federal aid for McClain, Pottawatomie county residents affected by tornadoes