Gov. Stitt appoints Annie Vest as Director of OK Emergency Management

GOVERNOR STITT SELECTS EXPERT DISASTER MITIGATOR AS DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

OKLAHOMA CITY (December 15, 2023) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt announced his appointment of Annie Mack Vest to serve as the Director of Oklahoma Emergency Management.

"Annie is an impressive industry leader for disaster mitigation and community preparedness," said Governor Stitt. "With over a decade of experience at the state and federal levels, Annie brings the right temperament and skill set to lead Oklahoma in emergency preparedness and response. I'm grateful for her willingness to serve, and I look forward to working alongside her to protect Oklahomans."

Lankford bill simplifying disaster assistance application process advances to full Senate

Lankford Pushes Simplified Application Process for Federal Disaster Assistance through Committee to Full Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (August 16th) – A bill by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) along with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) to simplify the process to apply for federal disaster recovery aid has advanced in the Senate. The bill would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a universal application across federal agencies for disaster survivors who are seeking federal assistance to recover from disasters. The bill was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Lankford aims to simplify application process for Federal disaster recovery assistance

Lankford Wants to Simplify Application Process for Federal Disaster Recovery Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) to introduce a bill that would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a universal application across federal agencies for disaster survivors who are seeking federal assistance to recover from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and more. Currently, individuals that require federal aid to recover from a disaster must fill out separate and detailed applications depending on what agency they need help from—a process that can take weeks or even months. This bill would streamline this process to reduce the burden on disaster survivors.

FEMA approves Major Disaster Declaration for all 77 Oklahoma counties

Governor Stitt announces President Trump approves Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 5, 2020) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced today that President Donald Trump has approved his request for a Major Disaster Declaration covering all 77 Oklahoma counties.

The declaration authorizes FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which provides federal funding for emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance for state and local governments as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.

Gov. Stitt’s request for additional assistance to include crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and other programs remains under review by the White House.

Due to the unprecedented scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has been authorizing some disaster assistance programs on a national level that are traditionally approved by FEMA on a state or local level as well as programs that go beyond what FEMA can normally provide.

State authorities will continue to assess the need for additional federal disaster aid to cover further response and recovery costs. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is working with FEMA and local emergency management officials to help local jurisdictions document their eligible costs for reimbursement.

Federal Disaster Loans available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19

FEDERAL DISASTER LOANS AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 14, 2020) – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Oklahoma small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This funding will be provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by President Trump.

To qualify for the program, the state must submit documentation of business losses for at least five businesses per county.

If approved, an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration will make disaster loans of up to $2 million available to small businesses and private, nonprofit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by COVID-19.

According to the SBA, these loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the impact of COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere and 2.75% for nonprofits. Businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible for this program.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management will have a form for businesses submit on its website (www.ok.gov/OEM) starting Monday.

NW Oklahoma fire relief information

This week, wildfires burned over 780,000 (1,218 square miles) acres of land in northwestern Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas, with additional large fires in the Texas Panhandle. At least seven deaths were reported, and thousands of head of cattle are said to have been lost to the fires, in addition to destroyed grassland, structures, and wildlife.

The burn area from the fires (click to enlarge)

A Kansas home that escaped destruction

Fighting a fire in NW Oklahoma

Aerial shot of a Kansas fire near the Oklahoma border, taken by OHP Pilot Roy Anderson

Here's some information on various relief efforts:

OKFB partners with Love's Travel Stops, Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma 

to fund fire relief

In the wake of devastating wildfires throughout northwest Oklahoma, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has partnered with Love’s Travel Stops and Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma to fund relief for fire victims.

The three organizations have furnished gift cards for fuel to those transporting donated hay to the affected area.

An estimated 1.3 million acres of land have burned, devastating farmers and ranchers throughout northwest Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Ranchers in the area are in dire need of feed for the cattle.

Gift cards will be distributed at the hay drop off locations. If interested in donating additional funds, please contact the Oklahoma Farm Bureau office at 405-530-2681.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau provides resources for giving and
those receiving wildfire relief

If you would like to donate relief effort funds, please make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation and put "Fire Relief" in the memo line and send to P.O. Box 82395 Oklahoma City, OK 73148. To donate online, visit www.okcattlemen.org.

If farmers and ranchers need hay, please reach out to the Harper County Extension Office at 580-735-2252.

Emergency donations and information is available below. The immediate needs are hay and trucking services to transport hay. Below are the drop-off points if you would like to donate hay:

I-40 Bridge Collapse: 10 Years

10 years ago this morning, a barge traveling up the Arkansas River struck a bridge support on I-40, causing a 580-foot section of the span to collapse into the river, and plunging about 10 vehicles into the water. 14 people were killed in the accident.

I distinctly remember the event, and the aftermath. Before heading to church that morning, my parents had the news on, and I remember seeing the coverage. Around that time, the kids at the church we attended had a sort of news and comics "club" (weekly exchange of hand-written articles, trivia, or cartoons), and I wrote the following story, complete with a drawing of the scene.

(I suppose one could call this my first "blog" post...) 

In the hours after the bridge was hit, rumors flew that the detour bridge upstream was also struck by a barge. That was not the case, but following the I-40 event, work was done along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigational System to strengthen and guard bridge supports from such an accident happening again.

I can recall driving down to Webbers Falls while the bridge was out, and seeing the temporary memorial there in town. The bridge was rebuilt in two months, a record for a project of that scope.

Just yesterday, I drove through Webbers Falls, and was thinking about the bridge disaster. It still doesn't seem like it's been ten years since it happened.

Although I was not affected by the event, now that I think about it, I do have a habit of checking the river when I drive over a bridge. Strange, how things can impact your behavior, even when you were far removed from the occurrence in the first place.