President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster in Tulsa, Wagoner and Muskogee counties in the wake of the recent tornadoes, heavy rains and flooding that started May 7.

This means Oklahoma businesses and residents can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans, according to, U.S. Small Business Administration’s acting Administrator Christopher M. Pilkerton.

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.75 percent for private nonprofits and 1.938 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

This is good news for homeowners, business people and farmers in Tulsa and much of Northeastern Oklahoma.

The cleanup continues in Tulsa particularly along the bank of the Arkansas River from the Keystone Dam through Muskogee and now into Arkansas.

Officials said on Saturday that the Arkansas River had moved out of its flood stage, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

On Saturday, the release of water from Keystone Lake was dropped to 135,000 cubic feet per second and the river was at 18 feet – a foot below the official flood stage.

Despite the drop in the flooding, officials continued working on propping up the levees along the river because of the forecast for more rain this week. The flooding has pointed out weak spots in the levees that need to be reinforced. The Oklahoma National Guard has been a part of that effort.

Before this week, parts of Tulsa had received as much as 10 inches of rain and more, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet.

Multiple tornado warnings have been issued for Tulsa County this year, which is twice as many as any of the recent years. The only good news is that those twisters have been of less intensity (EF-2 or less) when they hit heavily populated areas.

Tulsa County has also broken the record for most tornadoes in one season with eight. The previous record was six in 1960.

Still, Sapulpa and parts of South Tulsa and Broken Arrow are cleaning up from tornado damage.

And cities in Arkansas – including Van Buren, Dardanelle, Conway, Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Pendleton – are experiencing record flooding as the Arkansas River drains from Northeastern Oklahoma to the Mississippi River at Memphis, Tennessee.

On Friday, Keystone Lake was still releasing 1.6 million gallons of water per second into the Arkansas River. That’s a drop from earlier last week. Fear that the levees along the Arkansas River forced evacuation in Sand Springs, Bixby and Tulsa. Bixby High School’s campus was close to the flooding.

Oologah Lake was releasing about half a million gallons per second last week. Flooding damaged the Winganon road bridge and it was closed.

Lake Oologah goes into the Verdigris River, which caused floods in Wagoner and Rogers counties. The Neosho and Verdigris Rivers join with the Arkansas River between Muskogee and Fort Gibson. That caused flooding that forced several thousand residents from their homes.

Muskogee’s Industrial Park and other large areas in Muskogee County – including Fort Gibson – were under water. All of Webbers Falls downstream from Muskogee had to be evacuated.

• Tulsa officials said that residents who want to dispose of unwanted sand bags can pour the sand in low lying areas in their yard and dispose of the bag in the gray trash cart. The Tulsa Sand Bag Operation at the Mabee Center concluded last Thursday.
• The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) temporarily suspended toll fees between Afton and Miami.  The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority resumed toll collection on the Muskogee Turnpike.
• Some flood victim families lost food that was purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – food stamps) benefits due to a loss of power for an extended period or flooding. SNAP recipients whose lost food may request a replacement of benefits up to the monthly amount received for May 2019.
  
  “We are extremely saddened about the devastation and loss so many of our neighbors have experienced,” said Patrick Klein, director of Adult and Family Services. “While people are getting back on their feet, we want them to know DHS is here to help them. We encourage families who have been affected to request a replacement of their benefits immediately.”
• Anyone receiving state benefits, foster care reimbursements, adoption assistance or Child Support on the “Oklahoma Mastercard” debit card who have lost their card due to the storms may request a replacement card by calling 1-888-401-9843 for non-Child Support Mastercards, or 1-888-929-2460 for Child Support Mastercards. If their home has been destroyed and they have no way of receiving a replacement card in the mail, recipients may request the replacement card be sent to them at an alternate mailing address.
  
  “Our agency is dedicated to providing help and offering hope to vulnerable Oklahomans,” Klein said, “and we are here to offer support in whatever way we can.”
• On Friday, nearly 200 animals (100 dogs and 100 cats) from across northeastern Oklahoma without owners were flown to Chicago, Illinois, to make room for any additional animals displaced by flooding.  Humane Society of Tulsa helped this effort, but The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) paid for the Flight to Chicago. The temporary pet shelter at the Fairground was accepting pet food, blankets and towels.
  
  “Storms like these can be deadly for pets who are separated from their families,” said Robin Ganzert, PhD, president and CEO of American Humane Society.
  
  To support the American Humane Rescue team’s work, visit:  www.AmericanHumane.org/oklahoma-rescue.
• PSO was notified last week to restore power to areas that were disconnected when authorities deemed neighborhoods safe. If a property owner requested PSO to disconnect service, they should call PSO to begin the reconnection process. If authorities requested the disconnection, an inspection may be necessary.
• The Tulsa Health Department is offering tetanus shots at no cost at any of its immunization clinics. For hours and locations, call 918-582-9355 or visit www.tulsa-health.org/flood-safety, which contains a multitude of resources, including information about our no-cost tetanus shots, floodwater precautions, tips for safely re-entering your home, and recommendations for food establishments.
• Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) and Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW) have established a Disaster Relief Fund for Eastern Oklahoma to provide assistance to nonprofit organizations which are providing services and support to residents of eastern Oklahoma affected by recent flooding and weather events. Donations can be made securely at www.TulsaCF.org/2019storms.
  
  Donations by check should be made payable to Tulsa Community Foundation and include: “Disaster Relief Fund for Eastern Oklahoma” in the memo of the check. Mail checks to Tulsa Community Foundation, 7030 S. Yale Ave., Suite 600, Tulsa, OK., 74136.
• A GoFundMe account has been set up for the World War II submarine, the USS Batfish, in Muskogee. Recent flooding has floated the submarine, causing it to nearly float down the Arkansas River. Crews have been working to direct the boat into safety and protect the river and dams from the flooding submarine. It needs to be moved elsewhere to keep it in good shape. A GoFundMe was started to pay the cost of relocating the USS Batfish and the cost associated with restoring the vessel.
• Parts of River Spirit Casino was flooded on May 22 and the casino reportedly will stay closed through the month of June.
  
  “Really, the primary focus is accessing, and then drying out, the underground vaults containing the utilities for the property,” River Spirit Casino CEO Pat Crofts said on the casino’s website. “Additionally, we have to clean and prepare any asphalt damage to the parking lots for the safety of our guests and employees.”
  
  Crofts said the hotel, restaurants and gambling floors were not flooded but the pool, spa and parking garages were flooded.
  
  Crofts refuted claims on social media about weakness in the casino’s structures.
  
  “River Spirit and all of our facilities are structurally sound. The design and engineering of River Spirit was built to withstand a 100-year-flood and any severe weather-related event,” Crofts said. “Time and again we are having to address questions and rumors being perpetuated regarding the integrity of the Resort.”