Oregon – Congressional leaders from Oregon are urging the Department of Homeland Security to reinstate a federal disaster mitigation program important to protecting communities across the state. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, accompanied by Representative Suzanne Bonamici, are pressing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to restore the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program inside FEMA.
The effort occurs against a backdrop of increasing concern about the mounting risks natural disasters present—risks rural, coastal, and frontier communities in Oregon know all too well. Over 80 bipartisan congressional members spoke out to underline that the loss of BRIC funding would leave local governments less able to plan for severe weather, hence raising recovery expenses and compromising public safety.
The BRIC program has been a backbone for communities trying to strengthen their defenses against natural hazards since its inception in 2018. Funded by the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law with bipartisan support, the program has supported various hazard mitigation initiatives—everything from planning activities to on-the-ground infrastructure improvements meant to resist storms, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.
“BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm,” Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, and the lawmakers wrote.
Read also: Wyden continues 36-county town hall tradition with new stops in Coos, Curry, and Jackson
They also highlighted research showing that investments in mitigation can have a massive impact on future costs, with every dollar spent on disaster preparedness estimated to save up to $18 in recovery and response spending.
Oregon’s Democratic delegation earlier this year expressed significant objection to FEMA’s announcement that it would reduce BRIC payments, noting that many local governments—especially those in less urbanized areas—lack the means to confront natural disasters on their own.
Led by legislators from both sides of the aisle including Senators Patty Murray, Chris Van Hollen, Thom Tillis, and Lisa Murkowski, as well as Representatives Chuck Edwards, Sylvia Garcia, and Brian Fitzpatrick, the letter emphasizes that the struggle for disaster resilience is not a political one but one that impacts families and economies nationwide.
Read also: Job opportunity in Klamath Falls offers chance to manage vital public records and support boards
The message is clear: lawmakers think the BRIC program must continue in place to safeguard Oregon and the country as a whole as storms, wildfires, and other disasters grow increasingly frequent and powerful. They’re urging the government not just to bring back the program but also to cooperate with Congress to strengthen and broaden its reach so that communities are ready to respond before disaster strikes.
The full letter is available by clicking here.
