Oregon – President Joe Biden has issued major disaster declarations for five Eastern Oregon counties severely impacted by the devastating wildfires that tore across the region this past summer in a key step to help recovery efforts. As reported on Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will now provide essential federal funding to the counties of Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler.
Between July 10 and August 23, the wildfires destroyed around 2 million acres of Oregon including homes, other buildings, and large rangeland vital for cattle grazing. With at least 42 homes and 132 other buildings lost, the devastation set the state’s record for wildfire damage.
Targeting help for the response and recovery initiatives, FEMA’s assistance will be given on a cost-sharing basis. Apart from qualified nonprofit groups actively engaged in the recovery activities, this money will help a wide spectrum of stakeholders including tribal, local, state, and federal agencies.
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The decision to approve federal aid comes after a request for a disaster declaration by Oregon’s congressional delegation and Governor Tina Kotek in October, at the end of an exceptionally catastrophic wildfire season. In a news release, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley underlined the vital significance of this federal funding and the great effect of the wildfires on Oregonians and the local economy.
“This is good news to start 2025 that helps residents and small businesses in Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler counties to recover and rebuild from the wildfires that struck their communities in the summer of 2024,” Wyden said.
“Oregon suffered a brutal fire season, and I’ll keep working to ensure our state has both what it needs from the federal government to rebound and also to take proactive steps such as higher firefighter pay along with prescribed burns in the cooler and wetter months,” Wyden added.
“Last summer’s wildfire season was devastating for many Oregonians and our economy as a record number of acres burned, destroying dozens of homes and damaging valuable rangelands, cattle, and miles of fences,” Merkley said.
“This federal disaster designation is essential for the state, local, and Tribal governments in several counties in Oregon to continue to recover and rebuild, and I will continue to do everything I can to secure the resources we need to repair, strengthen, and protect our communities from dangerous wildfires,” Merkley added.
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Apart from FEMA’s support, these counties had earlier got emergency relief and loans worth $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in August, meant particularly to help farmers and ranchers impacted by the fires.
Declared a state of emergency in July owing to the approaching threat of wildfires, Governor Kotek had invoked the Conflagration Act a record 17 times during the season to organize firefighters and equipment to safeguard buildings and key infrastructure.
Following a January declaration for extreme weather occurrences impacting other areas of the state, including wind, ice, and rain storms, this current wildfire disaster declaration represents the second such government aid endeavor for Oregon in 2024. This earlier proclamation made federal resources available to local governments and non-profit organizations addressing facilities destroyed by landslides, mudslides, and extreme weather events spanning several counties and tribal territory.
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Federal, state, and local authorities working together aim to restore infrastructure and normalcy in the impacted areas, therefore assisting Eastern Oregon communities in rebuilding and recovering from a year of natural hardships and major losses.
