Cole's Statement on FEMA Denial

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) today released the following statement regarding FEMA's denial of an appeal for individual assistance funding for counties in Oklahoma affected by the winter storms.

"I am very disappointed that FEMA' has once again failed Oklahoma by denying funding to individual's who have suffered great lost from recent winter storms. The damages in the nine hardest hit counties are beyond the state and local jurisdictions' capabilities to respond; therefore, federal assistance is very much needed. In both the 2000 and 2002 Ice Storms, 47 and 45 counties respectively were granted individual assistance with virtually identical damage to that suffered in the 2007 Ice Storm. FEMA's decision to deny individual assistance appears to be completely subjective and quite contrary to their previous decisions. This is yet another reason why FEMA should be removed from the Department of Homeland Security's purview and be made its own individual agency."

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