Governor Seeks SBA Disaster Assistance for Cherokee County

OKLAHOMA CITY – In a statement released this morning, Governor Mary Fallin confirmed that she has today requested, in partnership with the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee County, a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration to assist those impacted by tornadoes, severe storms, and straight-line winds that occurred Nov. 30.

If approved, the governor’s request would bring SBA low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and business owners in Cherokee County to repair or replace any property damaged by the storm that was not covered by insurance. The loan program would also be available to assist businesses that sustained economic losses due to the storm.

Under SBA rules, counties contiguous to Cherokee County would also be eligible for assistance, including Adair, Delaware, and Sequoyah counties, where additional tornado damage was reported.

Damage assessments found more than 90 homes and businesses affected by the storm in Cherokee County. Of those, 58 homes and businesses with major damage were identified as uninsured and may be eligible for SBA’s program.

The National Weather Service in Tulsa reported the Webbers Falls and Lake Tenkiller tornadoes were on the ground for more than an hour and traveled a combined 54 miles from Muskogee County to Delaware County. At least 119 homes and businesses were affected by the storm across the five-county area.

(Images courtesy Dustin Butler)