Oklahoma

September 28, 2007 -- Oklahoma City — FEMA officials have declared eight more Oklahoma counties eligible for public assistance in the wake of severe storms and flooding that occurred throughout the state from June 10 to July 25, 2007, Gov. Brad Henry’s office announced today.

The counties added to the disaster declaration are: Bryan, Comanche, Cotton, Logan, Pontotoc, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman counties. The addition of these counties brings the total number of counties eligible for public assistance for these storms to 58.    » read more »

September 26, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Kevin R. Brown, 38, of Harrah, Oklahoma, died Sept. 25 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Source: DoD

09/18/2007 -- North Carolina Attorney General Drew Edmondson today said consumers who have signed up for the state’s Don’t Call List will remain on the list until they request otherwise, despite recent reports to the contrary.

Edmondson’s comments came in response to recent reports that some state Don’t Call Lists will soon be expiring. But Edmondson said that’s not the case in Oklahoma.    » read more »

September 17, 2007, OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that 12 additional counties have been approved for individual disaster assistance and 20 counties for public disaster assistance. The Presidential Disaster Declaration is the result of damages from the severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes occurring August 18-September 12.    » read more »

September 17, 2007 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced today that federal authorities have approved additional disaster assistance in response to the deadly flooding and other severe weather that occurred Aug. 18 through Sept. 12.

The following 12 counties were approved for individual assistance: Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Custer, Grady, Kiowa, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Stephens. Blaine, Caddo and Kingfisher counties were previously approved for individual assistance.    » read more »

September 07, 2007 (Oklahoma City) -- In response to a request from Gov. Brad Henry, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns has declared 75 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties disaster areas, making farmers and ranchers eligible for assistance from the United State Department of Agriculture.

The two counties not included in the disaster declaration—Pontotoc and Pushmataha—will be named as contiguous counties, making farmers and ranchers in every county eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA, provided eligibility requirements are met.    » read more »

09/07/2007 -- Finding that “Oklahoma has a compelling interest in protecting and policing both the integrity and the reliability of its initiative process,” the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma today dismissed a lawsuit filed by Yes On Term Limits, Inc.(YOTL), Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.    » read more »

August 30, 2007, Oklahoma City, OK – In combing through the archives of old photographs at the Oklahoma Historical Society, artist David Crismon came across some portraits that caught his eye. In his exhibit, The Light of Day, Crismon uses painting to translate a photographed history that has become marred and transformed with the erosion of time.    » read more »

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 22, 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, with industry teammates BAE Systems and General Dynamics, have selected Elgin, Okla., as a principal site for FCS Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) integration and assembly work.    » read more »

08/23/2007 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s office will soon host two training seminars for Oklahomans interested in learning how to use VINE, Oklahoma’s criminal tracking system.

“VINE is now in use in 51 counties,” Edmondson said. “To date, more than 1,500 email addresses and phone numbers are registered to be notified about inmate status. Now that the system is in place, we want to arm Oklahomans with the confidence to utilize the technology and information in a way that most benefits their personal safety and that of their loved ones.”    » read more »

August 22, 2007 -- Oklahoma City -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today requested President Bush declare three Oklahoma counties as disaster areas in the wake of deadly flooding, tornadoes and other severe weather that occurred this past weekend as the result of Tropical Depression Erin. The Governor’s request for individual assistance covers the hardest-hit counties of Blaine, Caddo and Kingfisher, although more counties can be added as additional damage assessments are completed.

Gov. Henry said Oklahomans impacted by the storms are in serious need of assistance.    » read more »

August 20, 2007 -- (Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today declared a state of emergency in 24 Oklahoma counties hit hard over the weekend by the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin. High winds and flooding have caused severe damage in many communities around the state.

Today’s disaster declaration is the first step toward seeking federal assistance. In addition, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management officials are in the midst of preliminary damage assessments to determine the extent of damages.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- Oklahoma Public Safety agencies are invited to submit solutions, ideas, and proposals to OKOHS which will be sent to the regional representatives / Governance Board for prioritization and statewide planning. Those proposals submitted will be evaluated for inclusion into one of the up to ten investment justifications, which will be submitted by OKOHS (as the State Administrative Agency) as part of the application process.?Once submitted, the investment justifications will undergo a peer review that will be under the guidance and supervision of the U.S.    » read more »

August 20, 2007 -- (Oklahoma City) On Monday, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry visited communities impacted by flooding and strong winds over the weekend. The survey included an aerial tour of damage in a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter and a ground tour in Kingfisher. The governor was accompanied by Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management executive director Albert Ashwood.

The governor spoke to business owners in downtown Kingfisher, where floodwaters had receded and residents had started on the task of cleaning up.    » read more »

08/20/2007 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson today warned consumers of the potential for home repair scams following this weekend’s severe weather.

“The wind and rain carried with them enormous damage,” Edmondson said. “These storms can also carry with them the potential for home repair fraud.”    » read more »