Fallin Seeks Federal Disaster Status

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Governor Mary Fallin has requested a federal disaster declaration for four southeastern Oklahoma counties for an early December winter storm that left 10 people dead and thousands without power for days.

If approved, the designation would provide federal funding to help the state, cities, counties and rural electric cooperatives to pay for repairs and costs associated with responding to the storm that is estimated to have caused $6.5 million in damage.

The counties included in the request are Choctaw, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pushmataha.

The storm that whipped through Oklahoma December 5th through 12th left 10 people dead and another 800 injured. Power was out for more than 10,000 homes and businesses and numerous schools and businesses were closed for days.