March 14, 2024

Oregon Delegation Pushes for Federal Disaster Declaration in Response to Ice Storms

Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s Congressional delegation—U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. House of Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Cliff Bentz—wrote a letter to the White House urging approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Governor’s formal request for the State of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians comes in response to the deadly ice storms that prompted her to declare a statewide emergency in January.  

“The recent storm’s effects stretched from northwest Oregon, across the Portland metro area, into the Columbia River Gorge, and down through the Willamette Valley. Effects of this storm have lasted from January 10, 2024 to January 22, 2024 – with temperatures remaining below freezing in several areas – and resulted in widespread damage, power outages that impacted nearly 100,000 people, and at least 13 deaths related to inclement weather,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to President Biden.

Governor Kotek’s request for Public Assistance from FEMA applies to eleven Oregon counties—Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Tillamook, Sherman, and Wasco counties—and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, as well as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide. These federal resources are critical to helping communities in the state address damages and impacts from January’s severe winter weather.

As climate chaos continues to worsen, and these deadly weather events become more common in the Pacific Northwest and across the country, the Oregon lawmakers also stressed the need to ensure communities are able to access the federal resources they need to equitably recover from these natural disasters.

“Given the impact these storms have had on both the physical and social infrastructure throughout Oregon, we urge you and your administration to ensure the State, Local, and Tribal governments have all the resources they need to help Oregonians recover from this deadly natural disaster,” the letter continued.

The lawmakers also praised Oregon first responders’ efforts in their letter to the President, commending their bravery to protect and serve communities, respond to emergencies, and restore power that helped save countless lives in the state.

The full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and below: 

Dear President Biden,

We urge you to grant Governor Tina Kotek’s formal request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the State of Oregon and The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. On January 18, 2024, she declared a statewide emergency due to the deadly ice storms that have impacted nearly every county across the state. We strongly urge your administration to work with the Governor’s office to ensure State, Local, and Tribal governments have access to all the federal resources available to respond to this deadly disaster.

The recent storm’s effects stretched from northwest Oregon, across the Portland metro area, into the Columbia River Gorge, and down through the Willamette Valley. Effects of this storm have lasted from January 10, 2024 to January 22, 2024 – with temperatures remaining below freezing in several areas – and resulted in widespread damage, power outages that impacted nearly 100,000 people, and at least 13 deaths related to inclement weather.

We ask that you give full and fair consideration to the Governor’s request for Public Assistance for eleven Oregon counties – Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Tillamook, Sherman, and Wasco – and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) statewide. These federal resources will help Oregon’s State, Local, and Tribal governments respond to this pressing need in our communities.

Furthermore, several counties in Oregon continue to recover from multiple severe weather events, including an atmospheric river that hit the Pacific Northwest and resulted in a series of storms starting on December 1, 2023 and lasting through December 12, 2023. These storms resulted in unprecedented rainfall, flooding, high winds, and dangerous landslides. All of which resulted in major roadways being closed, schools being shuttered, and even rail lines shutting down.

Nevertheless, throughout these deadly winter storms, as heavy rain, snow, and ice created hazardous conditions across various regions, our first responders braved the elements and continued to protect and serve their communities. Their work responding to emergencies and restoring power helped to save countless lives.

As climate chaos continues to worsen, and these deadly weather events become more common in the Pacific Northwest and across the country, we need to ensure communities are able to access the federal resources they need to equitably recover from these natural disasters.

Given the impact these storms have had on both the physical and social infrastructure throughout Oregon, we urge you and your administration to ensure the State, Local, and Tribal governments have all the resources they need to help Oregonians recover from this deadly natural disaster.

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