Seven more counties approved for federal disaster assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says federal disaster assistance has been approved for seven more counties affected by severe storms, flooding and tornadoes.

Stitt says residents and business owners can apply for financial assistance to help recover from storm damage since May 7 in Canadian, Creek, Logan, Osage, Ottawa, Rogers and Washington counties. Disaster assistance has already been approved for Muskogee, Tulsa and Wagoner counties.

The relief will provide housing repairs or temporary housing, low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance and grants for expenses not met by other programs.

Heavy rainfall led to severe flooding throughout the Arkansas River valley last month, flooding hundreds of homes and businesses in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is seeking federal assistance for eight counties impacted by flooding.