Obama Declares Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma Home to Disaster Areas; States to Receive Federal Aid

President Obama signed a declaration on February 17, 2009 proclaiming Missouri, Tennessee, and Oklahoma as states with major disasters and ordering federal funds be released in order to aid recovery efforts. These funds are to aid in recovery from storms that raged from January 26 - 28, 2009 in Oklahoma and Missouri, as well as storms and flooding that occurred January 27 - 31, 2009 in Tennessee. A CNN report on the winter storm of January 27, 2009 states that at least five people died in traffic accidents related to the weather.

Missouri

Due to severe winter storms, certain areas in Missouri have been declared major disaster areas. These areas are eligible to receive federal aid. The aid will be available on a cost-sharing basis to select nonprofit organizations in addition to state and certain local governments. This includes hazard mitigation across the state.

The Missouri counties affected by this declaration are Girardeau, Pemiscot, Bollinger, Reynolds, Carter, Butler, Cape, Ripley, Dunklin, Wayne, Ozark, Howell, Scott, Taney, Oregon, Madison, Shannon, New Madrid, Stoddard, Mississippi and Stone.

Thomas A. Hall is the Federal Coordinating Officer for the affected areas in Missouri.

Tennessee

Cost-sharing aid from the federal government is available to the state government as well as certain local governments and nonprofit organizations due to floods and severe winter storms.

The counties affected by this declaration include Obion, Dyer, Weakley, Lake, Henry, Stewart and Montgomery.

Federal Coordinating Officer Terry L. Quarles will be handing operations for these affected areas in Tennessee.

Oklahoma

This is the second time in three days President Obama has declared Oklahoma a disaster area and ordered federal aid to the state. On February 15, he signed a declaration with terms of aiding recovery for areas in Oklahoma hit by tornadoes and storms on February 10 - 11 of 2009. The counties receiving the aid from this first declaration are Logan, Oklahoma and Carter.

Businesses and Residents affected by this series of disaster events may apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). The TTY line is 1-800-462-7585.

CNN reports that the tornadoes reached up to 170 mph and an EF4 rating. The report also states that Lone Grove, Oklahoma suffered all of the fatalities and most of the reported injuries of the tornado strikes.

The second declaration from President Obama affects Hughes, Cherokee, Adair and Delaware counties. This funding is available to state and certain local governments as well as a select group of nonprofit organizations, on a cost-sharing basis. In addition, statewide hazard mitigation funding will be available on a cost-sharing basis.

The Federal Coordinating Officer for these areas in Oklahoma is Douglas G. Mayne.

FEMA

For all affected counties in these three states during all applicable dates, FEMA has proclaimed that 'further damage assessments' may allow for additional aid at a later date. FEMA may be reached for further information at (202) 646-4600.

The FEMA website ( www.fema.gov) has a section dedicated to disaster declarations and another section specifically for FEMA news. Those seeking assistance or more information may find this website particularly helpful.

Sources:

President Obama Signs Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee Major Disaster Declarations. The White House Briefing Room - Office of the Press Secretary. February 17, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Signs-Oklahoma-Missouri-and-Tennessee-Major-Disaster-Declarations/

Winter storm kills at least five. CNN. January 27, 2009. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/01/27/winter.weather/index.html

Declaration of major disaster in the State of Oklahoma. The White House Briefing Room - Office of the Press Secretary. February 15, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Declaration-of-major-disaster-in-the-State-of-Oklahoma/

Tornado cleanup begins in Oklahoma. CNN. February 11, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/02/11/oklahoma.tornado/index.html