Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer: Oregon Delegation Applauds Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Ice Storms

April 16, 2024 – Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer: Oregon Delegation Applauds Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Ice Storms

Today, members of the Oregon congressional delegation – including Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, and Cliff Bentz — applauded the approval of Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the deadly ice storms that prompted her to declare a statewide emergency in January.

The announcement comes after the delegation wrote a letter to the White House last month in support of the request, which President Biden just granted.

“The impacts that January ice storms had on both the physical and social infrastructure throughout Oregon have been devastating,” said the Oregon delegation. “We are grateful the president saw the urgency and immense need of the governor’s request for federal aid. This assistance we supported is critical to ensure state, local, and tribal governments have all the resources they need to help Oregonians recover from this deadly natural disaster.”

Federal funding from FEMA is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis to address damages and impacts from January’s severe winter weather in eleven Oregon counties: Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Tillamook, Sherman, and Wasco counties, along with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. In addition, federal funding was also granted on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in all areas within the state.

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