OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The White House announced Thursday that President Joe Biden has approved Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s request for a disaster declaration in response to a winter storm.

Biden on Wednesday approved the request made by Stitt after the storm dumped snow and ice on the state and brought days of subfreezing temperatures and power outages, according to the White House statement.

"I want to thank President Biden for his swift action to grant our request and make federal resources available to Oklahomans," the governor said in a written statement. "We will continue to leverage all resources as we recover from this storm."

Stitt had declared a statewide emergency last Friday as the winter storm was approaching the state and has said he spoke by phone with Biden on Tuesday.

Biden's approval allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and it allows for federal funding to reimburse cities, counties and tribes for the costs of emergency measures responding to the storm, including providing shelter for displaced residents.

Stitt's office said additional funding for farmers and ranchers who lost livestock is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

KTEN.com editor Walt Zwirko contributed to this report.

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