The White House announced this evening that it had approved Gov. Brad Henry’s request for a major disaster declaration for the Jan. 28 ice storm.

Under the declaration, Jackson County, along with 24 other counties, will receive public assistance for expenses related to response and recovery efforts for the crippling winter storm. The other counties are: Alfalfa, Caddo, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Delaware, Dewey, Ellis, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Haskell, Hughes, Kiowa, LeFlore, McClain, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Stephens and Washita.

Already preliminary damage estimates exceed $69 million. Damage surveys continue in other counties throughout the state. As they reach the federal threshold for relief, a request will be made to add additional counties to the disaster declaration.

Today’s announcement adds to the disaster assistance already granted under an emergency declaration approved Jan. 30. The emergency declaration delivered federal resources during response to the winter storm. These resources included industrial size generators, bottled water, cots and blankets.