September 23, 2020 3:35 a.m. 

Congressman Peter DeFazio is urging Governor Kate Brown to quickly develop a shelter plan for the thousands of Oregonians who have been displaced by the recent wildfires.

DeFazio is the Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the committee that has jurisdiction over the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A release said DeFazio offered his expertise in working with federal agencies to help establish shelter plans.

In a letter to Brown, DeFazio said, “With the number of structures lost due to the fires, this will be a long and slow recovery for hundreds, if not thousands, of Oregonians”. He said the immediate months will be even more challenging, with the rainy season and likely mudslides, the approach of winter and the holidays all compounded by the ongoing pandemic,  DeFazio said, “It is incumbent that the State develops a clear and coordinated plan as quickly as possible to keep survivors reliably sheltered and as close to their communities as possible”.

The release said last week, hundreds of Oregonians in the 4th district were given less than 24 hours’ notice they would need to leave hotel rooms provided by the American Red Cross, causing panic and uncertainty. DeFazio said his staff intervened with the Red Cross, Travel Lane County and other community leaders to ensure that those individuals would be sheltered at Red Cross-provided hotel rooms through October 2nd. Given the approaching deadline, DeFazio urged Governor Brown to expedite housing plans and to be creative and flexible in finding solutions to this crisis.

DeFazio said he is ready to assist in facilitating conversations with local leaders as well as using his influence with FEMA and other federal partners to eliminate red tape. He said, “Getting Oregonians into stable and secure housing as we enter the winter months is my top priority and I will do everything in my power to assist in that effort”.