The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it is providing nearly $37 million in disaster recovery aid to help Oklahoma communities recover from the storms and tornadoes that hit the state in May.
The grants are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The city of Moore will receive $26.3 million to supplement other forms of public and private disaster aid following an intense EF5 tornado. In addition, the state will receive $10.6 million to support local recovery efforts following these powerful storms that occurred from May 18 through June 2.
“These powerful tornadoes laid waste to a number of Oklahoma communities, destroying homes, businesses and critical infrastructure beyond the limits of private insurance and other forms of public assistance,” said Shaun Donovan, HUD secretary, in a statement. “HUD is continuing to work closely with state and local partners to help them meet these remaining needs and promote locally driven recovery strategies.”
HUD’s CDBG-Disaster Recovery grants are intended to confront housing, business, and infrastructure needs beyond those addressed by other forms of public and private assistance. Using a combination of data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration, HUD identified those states and local requiring the greatest assistance to recover from devastating tornadoes, tropical storms, hurricanes, flood events and destructive wildfires in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
