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Floods

FEMA Denies Disaster Declaration Request for Oregon's Harney County

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, and Representative Val Hoyle expressed disappointment and opposition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) decision to deny a Major Disaster Declaration request for Harney County. The request was made in response to historic flooding that severely impacted the area in March 2025. Despite the devastating effects of the flooding, which included significant damage to the physical and social infrastructure, FEMA concluded that the damages did not meet its threshold for a Major Disaster Declaration.

Key Takeaways:

  • FEMA denied a Major Disaster Declaration request for Harney County, Oregon, citing that the damages did not meet its threshold.
  • The request was made in response to historic flooding in March 2025, which caused significant damage to the physical and social infrastructure.
  • The Oregon lawmakers expressed opposition to FEMA's decision, stating that the funding would have been a critical lifeline to aid the State of Oregon's efforts to repair damages.
  • The denial affects the availability of funding through the Individual Assistance (IA) program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
  • Harney County, along with the City of Burns and the Burns Paiute Tribe, will now need to rely on alternative funding sources to recover from the devastating flooding.

Statistics:

  • Three rivers in Oregon reached major flood levels in March 2025.
  • Wind gusts of over 45 miles per hour caused power outages and blocked roads in the affected areas.
  • The Oregon lawmakers estimate that the damages from the flooding exceeded $1 million.
  • FEMA's threshold for a Major Disaster Declaration requires damages exceeding $7 million.

Sources:

  • Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle's statement on FEMA's decision to deny the Major Disaster Declaration request.
  • White House press release on President Trump's approval of a Major Disaster Declaration request for Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties, Oregon.

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