Oregon Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration Following Devastating Floods

Salem, Oregon- Governor Tina Kotek has formally requested federal disaster declarations to support communities across Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney counties, where historic floods this spring caused widespread damage and displacement.

The request, submitted in coordination with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), seeks federal aid through Presidential Disaster Declarations after weeks of severe storms, rapid snowmelt, and record rainfall struck the state from mid-March to mid-April.

The extreme weather triggered landslides and infrastructure failures, especially in rural areas where many residents remain displaced and critical utilities remain offline. Entire communities were cut off, with homes, businesses, bridges, and utility systems either damaged or destroyed.

“Although this disaster hit some of the most remote and economically vulnerable communities of our state, these folks have each other’s backs – they helped their neighbors to get through the initial emergency,” Gov. Kotek said. “They are resilient and resourceful, but they can’t do recovery alone. These communities urgently need federal support to help them recover.”

The state’s request includes Public Assistance funding for all four counties to repair roads, public buildings, and utilities. It also seeks Individual Assistance for residents of Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties, and separately for Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe, to help families recover from the flooding. In addition, Kotek is requesting funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to support long-term resilience projects across the state.

In Harney County, conditions were particularly dire after unusually warm temperatures rapidly melted a snowpack more than twice the seasonal average. The resulting surge overwhelmed the Silvies River, breached levees, and led to the failure of the only wastewater system serving the City of Burns and the Burns Paiute Tribe. The flooding contaminated the area with sewage, damaged more than 100 homes, and forced extended evacuations.

“This is the second major disaster Harney County has faced in a year, following wildfires in 2024,” said OEM Director Erin McMahon. “With limited local capacity, federal resources are essential to help these communities recover and to prevent future devastation.”

If approved, the federal declarations would unlock support for individuals with uninsured or underinsured losses, assist small businesses facing physical and economic impacts, and provide funding to repair and rebuild damaged public infrastructure. They would also support mitigation efforts such as reinforced levees, improved floodplain management, and more resilient infrastructure systems.