US Department of Labor provides grant to help Oklahoma residents recover from severe storms

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $471,150 National Emergency Grant to create temporary jobs for clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of the severe storms, tornadoes and associated flooding that struck Oklahoma last month.

"Communities in Oklahoma are suffering from the devastation of recent storms," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will help the many people who have been affected begin to repair their lives."

The funds are being awarded to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

As a result of the recent storms, President Obama declared the state of Oklahoma a disaster area. On May 6, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared Atoka County eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program. More information on designated disaster areas in Oklahoma is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14132. Atoka County will benefit from this grant.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/.