Major disaster declaration for public assistance issued for Coos, Curry and Douglas counties
By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon will receive federal emergency funding to support recovery efforts in three southwest counties that experienced intense storms and floods between March 13-20.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a major disaster declaration for public assistance in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties. The state, tribes, eligible local governments and nonprofits can receive public assistance on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair and replacement of damaged facilities, according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA.
Gov. Tina Kotek in late May asked Trump to declare a disaster after parts of southern Oregon in March and April experienced flooding from rapid snowmelt, record-level rainfall and overflowing rivers.
The floods resulted in nearly $9.5 million in damage, according to the Oregon Emergency Management Department, as landslides destroyed homes, businesses, bridges and utility systems — prompting Kotek to declare a state of emergency.
Following Kotek’s request for a disaster declaration, Oregon’s sole Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz, who represents parts of the affected counties, sent a letter to FEMA outlining the need for federal financial support.
“This far exceeds what the people of these counties can bear, making the need for federal assistance essential,” Bentz said in a news release.
The FEMA award is for three of the four counties the governor had requested assistance for, but not Harney County, where a broken levee in April damaged hundreds of homes. A spokeswoman for the governor’s office didn’t respond to an email, text or phone calls Wednesday about Harney County’s exclusion.
Trump previously called the federal agency issuing emergency funds to states a “disaster” and suggested that states should take care of natural disaster damage on their own, Stateline reported.
Mia Maldonado covers Oregon and the state Legislature with a focus on social services for the Oregon Capital Chronicle. She started her career in journalism with the Oregon Capital Chronicle’s sister outlet in Idaho, the Idaho Capital Sun.
