Oregon Gov. Kotek requests major disaster declaration after January’s Arctic blast

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After January’s deadly winter storm blanketed the region in snow and ice, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has requested a federal major disaster declaration to help with the damage, the governor’s office announced Tuesday.

In a letter to President Joe Biden, Gov. Kotek requested the declaration on behalf of the State of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

If approved, the declaration would provide grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to state, local, and tribal governments and some private nonprofits for winter storm costs — including debris removal, and repairs for public infrastructure and public utilities.

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Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management tells KOIN 6 News that Gov. Kotek did not request the president to authorize individual assistance programs that would provide aid to individuals and households for housing, personal property losses, transportation, medical costs, and child care expenses, because the storm damage did not meet FEMA’s threshold for that type of assistance.

“I am asking President Biden and the federal government to provide relief to Oregon communities and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians that have been grappling with short and long-term impacts of the January winter storm,” Kotek said. “Many are still struggling to recover from severe damage to public infrastructure and property as a result of the storm, and I am resolved to ensure that Oregon can access FEMA resources that exist for this very purpose.”

The declaration would include assistance for Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook, and Wasco counties, along with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

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According to Kotek’s office, the Preliminary Public Assistance Damage Assessment totals $48,485,115.

KOIN 6 News has been following storm damage assessments, including an initial storm damage report that found $72 million in damage across the state, according to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.

The severe winter weather led to 17 deaths in Oregon, and caused over 238,900 Oregonians to lose power at the peak of power outages, with some households losing power for two weeks, officials said.

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Additionally, over 1,300 small businesses sustained substantial economic losses from the storm, totaling an estimated $165,331,014 from several factors including lost wages and revenue decline, the governor’s office says.

The US Small Business Administration has since made low-interest federal disaster loans available for small businesses with applications due Nov. 8.

Kotek’s office noted it takes the federal government about six weeks to respond to federal major disaster declaration requests.

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