Latest news with #OregonDepartmentofEmergencyManagement
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon disaster prep hindered after FEMA cancels grant program
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon's ability to prepare for disasters is at risk after the Federal Emergency Management Agency canceled a grant program, officials warn. On Thursday, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management announced several projects in Oregon could be stalled after FEMA revealed on April 4 that it is cancelling the fiscal year 2024 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, which helps communities across the United States prepare for disasters from wildfires to flooding. FEMA said the agency is ending the program in an effort to eliminate 'waste, fraud and abuse.' DON'T MISS: 'Severely unprepared': Oregon faces federal funding cuts for Cascadia earthquake, wildfire readiness hub 'The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program. It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters,' the agency said in a statement. Since then, FEMA issued an updated advisory on April 16, clarifying, 'as the program is concluding, the Fiscal Year 2024 BRIC funding opportunity is cancelled, no applications submitted will be reviewed and no funds will be awarded. In addition, for all BRIC applications from Fiscal Years 2020-2023, if grant funds have not been distributed to states, tribes, territories and local communities, funds will be returned either to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury.' Because of the canceled BRIC funds, projects that were selected for the grant program will no longer receive the funds and ongoing projects could be delayed or stopped short of construction, according to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. 'Without extensions or continued support, communities across Oregon will face delays or cancellations in vital infrastructure improvements designed to reduce risk and protect lives,' OEM warned, noting FEMA is reviewing active and obligated BRIC projects before further projects in Oregon can continue. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez booed during town hall in Vancouver According to OEM, the federal share of BRIC projects in Oregon totaled $140 million, with local governments matching $90 million. With the canceled grants, several Oregon emergency preparedness projects are seeing sunk costs, or funding that has been spent and cannot be returned. OEM says eight of the 26 BRIC projects in Oregon now have a combined total of $8 million in sunk costs. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now OEM noted that even if the grants are reinstated, some projects will be priced out because cost estimates were locked in years ago when inflation and tariffs were lower. Now, the locked-in prices are set to expire and the new costs could be 'significantly higher.' Projects with sunk costs are impacting communities such as Port Orford, which was set to receive a grant to upgrade its drinking water system to protect against future damage from earthquakes, drought and wildfire. The grant would have ensured the city has enough water to meet average daily demand while maintaining emergency storage to withstand natural hazards. The federal grant was set for over $6.5 million in federal funds, with the local share spending over $690,000. Now, OEM says the project faces sunk costs of over $270,000. Ambulance rear-ended in apparent road-rage incident in Northeast Portland: police Another city impacted by the canceled grants: Medford. Similar to Port Orford, the Medford Water Commission is working to boost resilience of the water system against quakes, wildfires and drought. That project was set to receive over $34 million in federal funds, with the local share totaling more than $14 million. According to OEM, sunk costs for that project are over $1,875,000. Police seize enough fentanyl 'to kill everyone in Portland twice,' arrest 46 in multi-agency trafficking crackdown In Grants Pass, the city was supposed to receive BRIC funds for its Water Treatment Plant Relocation Project, to relocate the plant outside of a Special Flood Hazard Area, to protect the water treatment system in the event of a flood. According to OEM, the loss of federal grants 'jeopardizes the broader system project scope.' In this case, the federal share of the project was $50,000,000, while the city was set to invest over $60,000,000. Sunk costs sit at $5,000,000, OEM said. Travel + Leisure names Oregon coast hotel among best in the world Other impacted projects include integrating a tsunami evacuation structure into the Columbia Memorial Hospital expansion in Astoria, emergency prep for the Burns Paiute Tribe along with Columbia and Umatilla counties, and funds for the Oregon Military Department. 'These decisions will significantly impact communities across Oregon working to reduce disaster risk and invest in safer, more resilient infrastructure,' said OEM Director Erin McMahon. 'We are actively working with federal and state legislators to communicate these financial impacts and with FEMA partners to gain clarity on next steps and timelines. I have directed my team to conduct our own review to see what projects may fit within other Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants through federal partners that are currently funded like the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant or other state grant programs.' OEM also pointed to a statement from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek earlier in the week while speaking with members of the media, describing funding cuts for a water infrastructure project in Mapleton, stating, 'These are bipartisan or nonpartisan community projects that everybody supports. I have not heard one rationale from the Trump Administration as to why they cancelled the BRIC grants.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
Flooding in southeastern Oregon prompts evacuation orders, school closures and health concerns
BURNS, Ore. — Flooding in rural southeastern Oregon from what authorities have described as 'historic levels' of snowmelt and rainfall has prompted evacuation orders, school closures and public health concerns, submerging roads and agricultural land and damaging homes and businesses. The Harney County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that more than 1,200 people were under the highest level of evacuation orders and 18 people were using shelter spaces for displaced residents. Authorities have opened an emergency shelter at the county fairgrounds and RV shelters where people can park their vehicles. 'Since March 14, 2025, Harney County and surrounding areas have experienced historic levels of rainfall and snowmelt, overwhelming rivers, streams, and wastewater systems,' the Oregon Department of Emergency Management said. 'Floodwaters have inundated roadways, damaged critical infrastructure, and introduced environmental and public health risks, including contamination of waterways and disruption to essential services.' Harney County School District #3 has canceled classes for the week at its elementary, middle and high schools in the small cities of Burns and Hines. The district serves some 750 students. Drinking water is safe, but bacteria such as E. coli are present in the floodwaters, authorities said. Officials are urging residents to avoid floodwaters when possible, and to wear protective equipment such as rubber boots and gloves if they have to enter the standing water. Items worn in floodwaters should not be worn inside the home and should be decontaminated and washed, authorities said. Authorities have placed portable toilets around Burns for residents whose toilets won't flush due to sewage system backups. 'We recognize the flooding has impacted people's lives in significant ways. We appreciate everyone's patience as we continue to work to mitigate issues, and we are grateful for your support of one another and your first responders,' Sheriff Dan Jenkins said. The Burns Paiute Tribe has been providing meals and cases of water to impacted members, and set up portable toilets and showers. The tribe said on Facebook on Wednesday that it will move the portable toilets around the reservation for easier access. Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency on Saturday due to the flooding, which followed rapid snowmelt in the area. 'Flooding in Harney County and on the Burns Paiute Reservation is creating serious public health and environmental hazards that require all hands on deck,' Kotek said earlier this week. About 7,400 people live in vast yet sparsely populated Harney County, which spans over 10,000 square miles, an area roughly double that of the state of Connecticut.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Oregon flood victims asked to complete damage assessment survey
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is asking victims of the March floods to complete a survey, which will help ensure that no damages are missed in the state's assessment of the disaster. 'No absolute certainty' Martin Family car found in Cascade Locks Heavy rain brought on by an atmospheric river flooded towns, washed out roads and caused numerous slides in southwest Oregon between March 15 and 16. 'If your home was damaged, please complete the Public Individual Assistance Damage Assessment Survey,' the Oregon Department of Emergency Management wrote on social media. 'Your report helps Douglas County Emergency Management understand the impact on our community and support a request for state and federal disaster aid.' Disastrous storm pushed Oregon dam to its limits On March 19, Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency in response to the flooding. Douglas County assessors are actively working to calculate the damages suffered during the March floods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gov. Kotek declares flood emergency for southern Oregon, parts of Willamette Valley
Flooding on Oregon Route 42 on March 17, 2025 near Coos Bay. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared an emergency March 19 due to heavy rains which have washed out roads, cut power and caused at least one death. (Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation) This is a developing story and will be updated. Flooding and landslides from swollen rivers and record-setting rain in southern Oregon and parts of the Willamette Valley have caused millions of dollars in damages and cost one woman her life. In response, Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency for 10 counties on Wednesday, directing the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, the Oregon Department of Transportation and other state agencies to coordinate recovery efforts. The order applies to Clackamas, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Harney, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Multnomah and Malheur counties. 'Recovery starts as soon as disaster strikes, and this declaration will help get Oregonians back to normal as soon as possible,' Kotek said in a news release. She encouraged Oregonians to sign up for the state's emergency notifications and to have an evacuation plan and a bag packed and ready that includes emergency essentials. [Infobox: Sign up to get emergency alerts at and keep up-to-date with the State of Oregon Flood Dashboard.] Kotek also directed the Oregon Department of Transportation to assist with repairs and reconstruction on at least $10 million in damages to highways. The agency will also seek federal assistance. Several southern Oregon rivers were flooding on Monday due to heavy rain, Jefferson Public Radio reported. They include the South Umpqua, Rogue and Coquille rivers. Douglas County received record rainfall for a 24-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. And flooding in Kane Creek in Jackson County Sunday took the life of a woman who drowned while trying to clear debris from a culvert. In other parts of the state, the Clackamas River and the Owyhee River in Malheur County below the Owyhee dam are also at risk of flooding, according to the National Weather Service. The governor's office will continue monitoring conditions, according to the news release, and is closely watching for potential floods around Burns in Harney County. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
