Lightning Creek Flood Victims Not Holding Breath for Federal Assistance

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Victims of last week's flooding are now waiting to see if they'll get help as state and federal disaster workers were out assessing the damage Wednesday morning.

Once the assessment is completed, the state will likely request financial help for individuals from the White House, but if history repeats itself, flood victims said they aren't holding their breath.

Rhonda King has spent the last week doing what she can help to help her father-in-law. He was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and now his home is in shambles after flood waters swept in. What's more, King's father didn't have flood insurance.

"They had a meeting and told the neighbors that Lightning Creek was taken care of, and this wouldn't be a problem," King said.

Yet, there was a problem when heavy rain hit last week. The task now is determining how much damage was actually done.

"What we're looking for today is the amount of damage, if the people are insured. There are several different factors that go into this," said H.R. Holman, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Yet, many in the area have little hope after seeing what happened last month to flood victims in Edmond when the government denied the governor's request for help.

"Right now we're just going to rely on our own resources and just pray it works out well for him," King said.

A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Emergency Management said they understand why people are frustrated and discouraged but said to keep in mind that every disaster stands alone, and the state will do what it can to try to help.

As for the Edmond flood victims from last month, the governor announced Wednesday that they will be eligible for low interest rate loans through the Small Business Administration.