Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved another portion of his ongoing request for disaster assistance.

This approval makes funding available for crisis counseling, which will help support mental health initiatives designed to benefit individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, FEMA approved Stitt’s request for public assistance funding for emergency protective measures, allowing state agencies, municipalities and tribal nations in all 77 Oklahoma counties to be reimbursed by the federal government for 75 percent of the costs associated with their response and emergency protective measures.

Stitt’s request to increase that reimbursement to 100 percent is still pending, along with a request for additional assistance to include disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and other programs.