Officials say additional counties may be added to the list as surveys continue.

WASHINGTON — President Bush approved a major disaster declaration Tuesday for Tulsa County and six other Oklahoma counties, expanding the type of federal assistance they can receive in the wake of recent ice storms.

U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., who has tracked the federal response to the state’s requests, applauded the president’s “swift leadership.”

“The governor submitted this Saturday afternoon, and 72 hours later, we got the president to approve it,” Sullivan said. “I think it is pretty good success.”

The latest presidential declaration allows federal reimbursement to state and local governments for storm cleanup and infrastructure repairs in Cleveland, Lincoln, Mayes, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Tulsa and Wagoner counties.

Officials said additional counties may be added to that list as surveys continue.

The state also is continuing to compile damage information for an anticipated request for individual assistance.

Last week Bush approved all 77 counties in the state for an emergency declaration, which is a more limited action.

Under that designation, Sullivan said, counties can receive assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

He said the new declaration for the seven counties expands federal assistance to include work on road systems and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities and facilities

Gov. Brad Henry and Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor also were pleased the disaster declaration was approved so quickly.

“This will ensure that we will get help for the people who need it most,” Taylor said.

Tulsa’s estimated storm response cost is $7.5 million.

“This declaration will ensure that we get a portion back for every dollar we’ve spent,” Taylor said. “It will have a huge impact on our budget.”

Federal funds are available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for certain work.

Henry said 13 or 14 more counties could be added to the new list by week’s end.

He is expected to submit another request to cover individual assistance, and residents and business owners who have uninsured ice storm damage were urged to call the state’s toll-free damage assessment hot line at (866) 560-7584.

“Individual assistance, if you look at the track record, is much more difficult to obtain, but I feel that we have a good case to warrant at putting that forward,” Sullivan said.

“I am going to work very hard to try to secure that.”

Sullivan had taken the lead on delegation efforts to track the state’s requests and the federal responses. “I learned from the last one, watching other people,” he said.

“Also, it did affect my community, where I live, so I got to see firsthand. My power just came on yesterday (Monday).”

World staff writer Brian Barber contributed to this story.

Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com

How a federal disaster request works

Step 1 — Local request: Local governments issue disaster emergency proclamations and notify the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The OEM works with more than 400 local emergency managers to determine the extent of the emergency and which areas are hardest hit.

Step 2 — State response: The state Emergency Operations Center is activated. In this case, it brought in representatives of the state military, transportation, health and public safety departments, the Corporation Commission, OG&E, the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The state's chief executive declares a state of emergency.

Step 3 — Federal response: The governor requests a federal emergency declaration, which makes available additional resources, such as bottled water and portable generators, for responding to the emergency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers join the Emergency Operations Center.

Step 4 — Assessment: Even as disaster response continues, teams begin assessing damage to public infrastructure to determine the level of public assistance needed. As the situation stabilizes, information is gathered to determine the need for individual assistance.

Step 5 — Declaration request: Information gathered by the assessment teams is put into report form and sent with a letter from the governor to the president requesting public assistance — that is, aid to governmental units — and a disaster declaration. Later, information gathered from individuals will be submitted with a request for individual assistance.

Step 6 — Disaster declared: The president issues a disaster declaration making available federal funds for public assistance in affected counties.

Compiled by World staff writer Randy Krehbiel.