Oregon’s Flood-Ravaged Counties Await Federal Assistance Following Governor’s Appeal

The Governor of Oregon, Tina Kotek, has called for Presidential Disaster Declarations to provide federal support to the county communities of Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney, that suffered devastating damages during the 2025 floods.

People Lost Their Homes and Bridges Were Destroyed

Floods occurred from mid-March to mid-April when severe storms, record-level rainfall, and rapid snow-melt resulted in landslides and damage to infrastructure.

Many people in isolated areas of the four counties lost their homes, and businesses and bridges were destroyed or badly damaged.

Damage was extensive in Harney County when unseasonably warm temperatures rapidly melted snowfalls that were more than double the seasonal average.

The melting snow flooded the Silvies River, breached levees, and led to the failure of the only wastewater system serving the City of Burns and the Burns Paiute Tribe. Serious public health hazards were caused by sewage-contaminated floodwaters that forced extensive evacuations and damaged more than 100 homes.

Describing the residents of the four counties as resilient and resourceful, Gov. Kotek said they nevertheless need federal support to help them recover.

Kotek is requesting funding to repair roads, public buildings, and utilities in all four counties; assistance for individuals living in Coos, Curry and Douglas Counties, and separate assistance for Harney County and the Burns Paiute Tribe to support people affected by the floods.

The governor has also called for statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding to invest in long-term flood protection and resilience.

According to a news release from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), the declarations will access federal resources to assist eligible individuals and households with uninsured or underinsured expenses and serious needs.

It will also support economically and physically impacted small businesses, and bolster public infrastructure repairs and long-term rebuilding.

This will include hazard mitigation projects such as reinforced levees, improved floodplain management, and more resilient infrastructure.

For updates and information on available recovery resources, visit www.Oregon.gov/OEM.

To explore the interactive story map of the devastating impacts of Oregon’s 2025 floods and the ongoing recovery efforts in Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney counties, visit: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories…