Oklahoma

March 11, 2009 -- Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today announced the creation of a state coordinating council to help oversee Oklahoma’s use of federal stimulus funds.

In an executive order signed today, the governor formally established the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Coordinating Council. The panel includes state agency and executive branch leaders who have already been working on various aspects of Oklahoma’s stimulus response.    » read more »

March 6, 2009 -- DENTON, TEXAS -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help fight the Taloga Fire following a request for a fire management assistance declaration from the State of Oklahoma on Thursday.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 372 homes in and around the community of Taloga, in Dewey County. The fire threatened buildings, roads and bridges, infrastructure, utilities, recreation, equipment, fishing streams and spawning sites, and wildlife in the area. Voluntary evacuations were issued for over 200 people. The fire started on Thursday, and had burned in excess of 20,000 acres of State and private land.    » read more »

March 09, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today approved legislation that will help preserve the Oklahoma State University medical program and the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. Both had been facing an uncertain future because of financial difficulties and other challenges.

House Bill 1127 by House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee appropriates $5 million to the OSU Medical Authority to keep the facility in operation. It is the first installment of five such annual appropriations.

The funding is part of an agreement hammered out last December by Gov. Henry, Speaker Benge, Pro Tem Coffee, OSU officials and Tulsa leaders.    » read more »

March 06, 2009 -- Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry said today he is extremely pleased that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to fight the Taloga fire.

“Firefighters and other first-responders have done an incredible job battling the Taloga wildfire, and I am thankful that FEMA moved swiftly to provide federal assistance for their efforts,” Gov. Henry said. “Nearly the entire town of Taloga was evacuated at the height of the fire. This aid will go a long way toward helping the agencies involved in battling the blaze.”

The Governor said state emergency management officials are monitoring conditions throughout Oklahoma that have the potential for the spread of significant wildfires.    » read more »

March 02, 2009 -- Oklahoma City -- Saying Oklahomans need to know that every dollar of the federal stimulus package is being used efficiently and effectively, Governor Brad Henry today announced the creation of a state website to track stimulus funds and the appointment of State Auditor and Inspector Steve Burrage to serve as a watchdog on stimulus expenditures.

“In light of the size and scope of the stimulus package, complete transparency is essential to ensure public confidence,” said the governor. “Oklahoma taxpayers need and deserve to know how every dollar will be spent in our state. By posting all information on the web and having the auditor oversee the process, we can bolster public trust and ensure an informed citizenry.”    » read more »

February 25, 2009 -- Oklahoma City -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved his request for public assistance for three Oklahoma counties hit hard by this month’s severe storms and tornadoes. Additionally, federal officials granted the Governor’s request for another six counties to receive public assistance in the wake of the January ice storm.

The designation delivers federal funding to assist municipalities, counties and rural electric cooperatives with infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storms.    » read more »

February 17, 2009 -- Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced today that the White House has approved his request for public assistance for four Oklahoma counties hit hard by January ice storms.

As a result, local governments and rural electric cooperatives in Adair, Cherokee, Delaware and Hughes counties can receive federal funding for infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storm.

Gov. Henry made the request on Feb. 10. In those four counties alone, the ice storm resulted in an estimated $7.3 million in infrastructure damage and response costs.    » read more »

February 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the State of Oklahoma to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes during the period of February 10-11, 2009.

Acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Obama. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Carter, Logan, and Oklahoma.    » read more »

February 11, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today said federal authorities in Washington, D.C., have pledged any and all assistance in responding to the deadly tornado that last night struck the community of Lone Grove in southern Oklahoma.

This morning, the governor spoke by telephone to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

“Secretary Napolitano pledged to deliver any and all assistance as Oklahoma responds to and recovers from the deadly storms that shook our state last night,” said Gov. Henry. “I appreciate the swift response from the federal government. We are doing everything we can to help people impacted by yesterday’s tornados.”    » read more »

February 11, 2009 -- Oklahoma City — In the wake of deadly tornadoes Tuesday that swept through sections of the state, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has declared a state of emergency for 17 Oklahoma counties.

A tornado in the Carter County town of Lone Grove killed eight people and injured dozens more. Twisters caused extensive damage in several Oklahoma communities, including Edmond, Oklahoma City, Pawnee, Wilson and Springer.

The counties included in the declaration are: Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Garvin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Murray, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Nowata, Osage and Washington. More counties can be added if conditions warrant.

Gov. Henry said state officials are poised to provide all eligible assistance.    » read more »

February 10, 2009 -- Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today requested that President Obama grant public assistance to four counties hard hit by the ice storm that began Jan. 26. If approved, the designation would deliver federal funding to assist municipalities, counties and rural electric cooperatives with infrastructure repairs, debris removal and costs associated with responding to the storm.

The counties in the request are Adair, Cherokee, Delaware and Hughes. In these counties alone, the storm resulted in an estimated $7.3 million in infrastructure damage and response costs. Other counties can be added to the request as additional damages are identified.    » read more »

January 28, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) In an effort to boost voter turnout, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today announced he will urge the Legislature to expand early voting in Oklahoma.

According to election officials, early voting has become increasingly popular with each passing election cycle in Oklahoma. During last year’s presidential election, for example, the state set a record for ballots cast during the three-day early voting period, with long lines and multi-hour waits experienced at polling places around the state.

To improve early access to the polls, Gov. Henry wants to expand early voting to seven days in state general elections, so Oklahomans can cast ballots the full week before election day.    » read more »

January 26, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today announced a plan to boost funding for one of the state’s top job creation tools, the EDGE research endowment, by earmarking various state interest and investment earnings for the fund.

The EDGE endowment generates money to help fund cutting-edge research projects across the state of Oklahoma.

“Obviously, our first order of business this year is to address the state’s short-term budget challenges and we will do that, but we cannot afford to neglect our long-term job creation needs in the process,” said Gov. Henry. “A well-funded EDGE endowment and the high-paying research jobs it creates are critical to Oklahoma’s future economic growth, so it is important to make a commitment now.”    » read more »

January 26, 2009 -- Oklahoma City -- With much of Oklahoma being impacted by an ice storm, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today declared a State of Emergency for all 77 counties in the state.

“Oklahomans know all too well that severe winter weather poses serious challenges to everything from roads and power lines to debris removal, and so it is important that we be prepared for the worst,” the Governor said.

The executive order marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary. Additionally, the executive order allows state agencies to make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions.    » read more »

June 09, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class David R. Hurst, 31, of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, died June 7 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, La.    » read more »