The federal government has imposed a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of homes with mortgages owned or backed by the Federal Housing Administration in areas of Oklahoma devastated by this week's tornado.
On Tuesday, President Obama declared five counties in Oklahoma to be disaster areas, allowing the Department of Housing and Urban Development to offer foreclosure relief and other housing aid to certain families living in those counties.
The moratorium applies to borrowers with mortgages insured by the F.H.A. who live in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties.
The action applies to new foreclosures, as well as those already in progress. In addition, the agency told lenders and loan servicers that it "strongly recommends" additional help for homeowners directly affected by the tornado, including waivers of late charges, mortgage modifications and refinancing.