CARTER COUNTY, Okla. ― After President Obama declared Carter County a disaster area over the weekend, federal help is now on the way. Rashi Vats talked to Oklahoma state officials to see what kind of aid is available to victims of last week's deadly tornados.

After tornados struck southern Oklahoma in 1999, Susan and Rick Pack decided to build a tornado shelter near their home in the Majestic Hills neighborhood in Ardmore. That decision saved their lives when the deadly twister touched down last week, but their house is a total loss. Now the Packs are salvaging whatever valuables they can.

The cleanup process has been going on for the past couple of days but after President Barack Obama declared Carter County a disaster area. Victims we talked to Monday were wondering what type of state and federal aid they can get.

“There may be assistance for you. There may be financial aid for you out there but you won't know unless you go and make that call or go online and get the application,” michelann ooten with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management says.

Ooten has been in southern Oklahoma since Wednesday morning.

"We’ve been on the ground looking at the damage and doing the damage assessments. That all came to fruition this weekend when the president declared Carter County a disaster area. That is going to help us to be able to assist these individuals and business owners now that we have individual assistance," Ooten says.

Lone Grove city manager Marianne Elfert says state and federal money is desperately needed, but residents are already hard at work.

“The city is coming together as a whole and helped everybody out. I'm just amazed at all of the cooperation and whatever needs to be done, no matter whose job it is is getting done, and it's a pleasure to have people like this in our community,” Elfert said Monday.

“These days, with this economy, we knew that this was essential, and especially difficult to get passed something as difficult as an F-4 tornado coming through your community.”

Many victims say the thought of federal funding gives them hope.

The first step is to apply for aid by calling or applying online, and a FEMA employee should get back to you in a couple of days.

More info posted on how to get FEMA help

Damage substantial in Ardmore’s Majestic Hills

And while you may have heard a lot about lone grove these past few days, the National Weather Service says another hard hit area was Majestic Hills in Ardmore. Two story houses were blown away, as was a school.

Local churches like the Northwest Baptist Church in Ardmore have been helping victims clean up the debris and salvage what they can from the rubble.

Volunteers from the American Red Cross and Salvation Army have also been on site for the past few days. They say that the cleanup process could take several months.

You can help Carter County tornado victims. See info below on how you can help.

TORNADO VICTIM DONATION CENTERS

Fenton Honda - Holiday Drive - Ardmore