The Norman Transcript

Editorials

Discussion

January 4, 2013

Sandy aid forthcoming

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — We empathize with New York and New England residents with their anger over the lack of long-term federal aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy. Oklahomans have been left out of federal aid in the past.

Oklahomans have had tornadoes, ice storms, fires and blizzards that have caused widespread damage. Federal aid often is elusive.

The new Congress is expected to take up an immediate flood insurance aid package, followed by a second more long-term recovery fund. That could total as much as $60 billion.

Members of Congress from New York and New Jersey are comparing the storm to Hurricane Katrina in its damage. We’re not sure that’s a fair comparison, but it makes for a good sound bite.

Americans turn to the federal government and its vast resources for help when disasters strike. It’s part of what makes the country strong, and we encourage Congress to act swiftly to make communities whole again.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Editorials
  • We are disaster central

    Oklahoma is disaster central. Per capita, the state has had more tornadoes and natural catastrophes than any other state. Texas and California have had more but they are much larger and have far more people than Oklahoma....

    May 25, 2013

  • Report price gouging

    A report on a national news website claims a store was reported for selling a case of water for $40. Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s office is investigating....

    May 25, 2013

  • New faces on the bench

    Cleveland County is one step closer to getting another district judge. House members overwhelmingly approved the legislation moving a vacant seat from Seminole County in eastern Oklahoma to Cleveland County....

    May 24, 2013

  • The randomness of it all

    A drive through the fringe streets of the damaged areas in Moore and south Oklahoma City this week shows the randomness of Monday’s tornado. Homes that appear to have little or no damage stand next to ones that are ready to be pushed over....

    May 24, 2013

  • The Oklahoma standard

    The sight of hundreds of young student volunteers walking across Moore’s Fourth Street interstate overpass had to be uplifting to the city’s tornado victims. They carried rakes, brooms and trash bags. A few had children’s red wagons. There ...

    May 23, 2013

  • There’s no answer for ‘Why?’

    Just hours before, there was breakfast and laughter. Pictures were on the walls and memories were in every room. But in seconds, those joys of life were reduced to a concrete slab by a rage of nature that man will never fully understand....

    May 22, 2013

  • Moore’s amazing resilience

    Our hearts, already heavy from Sunday’s deadly tornado in far eastern Cleveland County, sunk even further Monday afternoon as we watched the tornado rip through Moore. The monster storm that hit Monday followed nearly the same path as the ...

    May 22, 2013

  • Relying on private prisons

    Oklahoma began contracting to place inmates in private prisons during Gov. Frank Keating’s administration in 1995. Today, more than 5,000, or 23 percent, of our inmates are in the custody of three private prisons....

    May 21, 2013

  • Thanks for warnings

    We can’t say there wasn’t enough warning this time around....

    May 21, 2013

  • Airline changes coming

    In the airlines business, time is money. American Airlines wants to try and speed up its boarding process. Passengers who travel with only a personal item such as a purse or a brief case can now get on first....

    May 19, 2013