WASHINGTON — Information being sought by Sen. Tom Coburn about why the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied individual disaster assistance to Oklahomans is not normally released to the public, a spokesman for the disaster agency said Thursday.

Aaron Walker, FEMA press secretary, said the data is "pre-decisional,” a work product that isn't part of the public record.

Walker said FEMA staff members had been in contact with Coburn's staff in regard to his request.

Aaron Cooper, Coburn's press secretary, said, "FEMA has confirmed receipt of Dr. Coburn's letter and he looks forward to their response. Dr. Coburn welcomes the opportunity to work with FEMA, and all federal agencies, to ensure they conduct business as openly and transparently as possible.”

Members of the congressional delegation have criticized FEMA for denying individual assistance to people in nine Oklahoma counties hit hard by ice storms in January. Some lawmakers said the decision made no sense since the damage was as extensive or worse than that after ice storms in 2000 and 2002, years when FEMA did approve individual assistance.

Walker said Thursday, "Each disaster is unique.”

He said FEMA had a set of guidelines and procedures for evaluating requests for assistance. And he said FEMA Director David Paulison has ordered that the agency be a "compassionate” one.

Coburn fired off a letter to Paulison on Tuesday saying he wanted to see all of the data used by FEMA to evaluate Oklahoma's request for individual assistance.

"Only through complete transparency, and a willingness to explain all decisions in detail, will public confidence be restored” in FEMA, Coburn wrote.