Kotek had requested FEMA funds months ago after days of heavy downpour unleased flooding, landslides and mudslides in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties.
OREGON, USA — After March’s severe flooding and landslides, President Donald Trump has approved Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recovery funds for three southwest Oregon counties.
Trump granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the state, which releases federal funds that will be available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and nonprofits for recovery efforts from the storms that unleased historical flooding, landslides and mudslides in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties earlier this spring. Many residents are still unable to return to their homes, Kotek’s office said.
“With limited state and local capacity, federal resources are essential to help communities impacted by disaster to recover and prevent future devastation,” Kotek said in a statement. “Oregonians are resilient and inspiring. FEMA stepping up to support our recovery efforts is much appreciated. I want to thank President Trump and everyone who advocated to make this declaration a reality.”
Kotek had declared a state of emergency on March 18, then again on March 29. Kotek had also requested FEMA funds in May, and Oregon later joined a multi-state lawsuit for withholding disaster mitigation funding; Trump has previously spoken of a desire to “phase out” FEMA and shift more responsibility to the states.
FEMA funding for Harney County was requested but not granted, according to Gov. Tina Kotek’s office. The flooding resulted in breached levees and the failure of the only wastewater system serving the city of Burns and the Burns Paiute Tribe, causing health hazards, such as e. coli, and forcing evacuations.
An Oregon Emergency Management Agency (OEM) spokesperson told KGW that they have not received an official letter of denial from FEMA regarding Harney County.
Kotek’s office said state legislators during the 2025 legislative session approved funding to minimize flooding and improve infrastructure for Burns and Harney counties, including addressing dikes, levees, dredging and vegetation thinning along waterways.
Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents Oregon’s 2nd congressional district, praised the decision in a statement, saying that a preliminary damage report by OEM found that the damaged totaled around $9.5 million across 25 impacted public entities.
“This far exceeds what these the people of these counties can bear, making the need for federal assistance essential,” he said, in part, thanking Kotek, OEM, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, the Trump administration and FEMA.
