FEMA denies Oklahoma's disaster aid appeal

Oklahoma's appeal for individual assistance in the December ice storm has been denied by federal officials, the governor's office said today.

The decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is disappointing and frustrating, Gov. Brad Henry said.

"We worked with the FEMA coordinator on site to compile our aid request and documented the appropriate damages, all of which are reimbursable under federal guidelines," Henry said. "We felt we met all of the necessary thresholds, but FEMA still said no, not once but twice."

Although FEMA did not specifically explain why it denied Oklahoma's original request or its appeal, top FEMA officials have told the media and others that not enough homes sustained damage to qualify, according to the governor's office.

Henry said structural damage is only one small component of reimbursable damages and should not have disqualified the state's request.

"Ice storms don't knock down buildings like other disasters, but they do inflict significant damages in the form of lost wages for employees and lost revenues for businesses," the governor said. "Those are reimbursable disaster losses that Oklahomans may have to shoulder because of FEMA's denial."

In its request, the state cited the ice storm's damage to homes and businesses, the fiscal impact to businesses closed by power outages and the continuing health hazard of remaining storm debris. It also mentioned the multiple disasters — such as floods — in 2007.

In its denial, FEMA stated that Oklahoma and its nonprofit assistance organizations could cover state losses.

The December ice storm left more than 640,000 homes and businesses without power and caused 29 deaths.