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April 16, 2009

FEMA in Velma

Agency appraises needs of town

Derrick Miller

VELMA — VELMA — On April 9, fires ravaged Velma, destroying 15 homes and businesses in the community. A week later, an assessment of the damage was made.

Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Oklahoma Emergency Management, Small Business Administration and local entities, including Stephens County Emergency Management and the Velma Police Department, came together to look at what remained of structures in Velma.

Brad Craine, FEMA public information officer for District VI, said, “This is an information-gathering process. They’re looking at individual assistance. It will show how many people are insured.

“That plays a key role, insurance, whether to get federal assistance.”

In Oklahoma, about 150 structures burned down. For Stephens County, 17 structures became debris because of the fire. Velma had 15 homes destroyed, while Meridian and Loco each had one.

Gov. Brad Henry directed FEMA representative to eight counties hit hardest by the fires. In those counties, including Stephens, the various emergency management members met with local emergency officials to find where the structures were located.

“This is their home,” Craine said. “They know where they’re going.”

On Thursday, the emergency assessment group arrived in Velma. Group members rode around the town looking at the damaged structures. In many cases, the foundations were all that was left of the homes and businesses.

The objective was to assess and observe the damages in the community. Members of the emergency group were taking notes to keep track of anything that might help the governor determine if he wants to submit a proposal for a declaration of disaster to President Barack Obama.

Obama is the only person who can declare a state of emergency, but he gets the opinions of the governors to help him make the decision.

Craine said the process will probably take a couple of weeks before anyone will find out if a state of emergency is declared. This is because emergency situations have arisen in other states, including floods.

“There’s an incredible amount of stuff going on around the country, not just Oklahoma,” Craine said. “It will probably be a week to two weeks before we find out if we get a declaration.

“Everything is done case by case. There’s a number of factors.”

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