Oklahoma lawmakers are preparing to take up legislation to appropriate $45 million in emergency funds to help pay for recovery efforts following deadly tornadoes in central Oklahoma.

Officials in the Oklahoma Senate say the chamber could take up a measure on Wednesday that would dip into the state's Rainy Day Constitutional Reserve Fund to help pay for recovery efforts. State House and Senate committees approved the measure on Tuesday. The Rainy Day fund's balance is expected to reach a record $660 million in July.

Money from the emergency fund would help local communities recover from a tornado that struck Moore on Monday, killing at least 24 people. A separate tornado on Sunday left two dead in Shawnee.

Gov. Mary Fallin issued an emergency declaration for 16 Oklahoma counties on Sunday.