July 25, 2025 3:40 a.m.

This week, President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration for public assistance for the counties of Coos, Curry, and Douglas to support recovery efforts from the flood event that struck the region in March.

Governor Tina Kotek said, in a release issued Thursday, that, “FEMA Public Assistance funding will now be available to the State of Oregon, tribal and eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties”.

A county release said following the declared emergency flood event, Douglas County Emergency Management compiled and submitted a combined public entity request for over $11 million, but FEMA will evaluate and verify all actual costs eligible for reimbursement. The public entities included cities, county departments, fire districts, and a number of others.

County Commissioner Tim Freeman said, “Our staff, public entities, and local communities dedicated countless hours to compiling damage assessments, coordinating with local jurisdictions, and carefully documenting every detail”. Freeman said, “We will now shift our focus to fighting to secure funding to support individual assistance for homeowners, landowners and businesses”.

Congressman Cliff Bentz said Oregon Emergency Management, the Governor, and Commissioner Freeman are all to be commended for their work in gathering the facts and taking the actions necessary to support the request for assistance.

County Commissioners declared a state of emergency for the flood event on Sunday March 16th. Governor Kotek declared a state of emergency due to flooding and landslides in southern Oregon on March 18th. In May, Governor Kotek formally requested Presidential Disaster Declarations to provide federal support for flood recovery in communities devastated by the 2025 floods.