Disaster relief approved for parts of Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Gov. Mary Fallin says the federal government has approved the state’s request for disaster assistance for 18 Oklahoma counties following an ice storm that began after Thanksgiving.

Fallin said Tuesday federal funding is now available for cities, counties, rural electric cooperatives and the state for infrastructure repairs and costs associated with the storm that occurred between Nov. 27 and Nov. 29.

Disaster assistance was approved for Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Grady, Grant, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Logan, Major, Oklahoma, Roger Mills, Washita and Woods counties. Preliminary assessments indicate the storm caused about $19.7 million in damage and response costs in those counties.

The storm was blamed for two deaths and power outages for more than 125,000 homes and businesses statewide, as well as dangerous travel conditions in areas.