January 5, 2024 3:30 p.m.
On Friday, Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency in Coos, Curry. Douglas, Jackson and Tillamook counties to support recovery following damaging storms last month.
A release from the Governor’s Office said an Executive Order directs the Oregon Department of Transportation to provide appropriate assistance and seek federal resources to effect repair and reconstruction of damages to the federal aid highway system in those counties. The state of emergency declaration follows damage assessment, which confirmed federal program eligibility and will expedite the process to receive federal resources.
Kotek said, “This emergency declaration will give ODOT the ability to seek federal resources to aid in the long-term recovery effort”. Kotek said, “I am grateful to the local leaders, service providers, and state agency personnel who partnered in quickly assessing the damage and providing immediate aid for community members left vulnerable by these storms”.
The release said beginning December 1st and continuing through December 12th, these storms resulted in heavy rain, landslides, and erosion in various locations within these counties, leading to critical transportation failures, which require significant effort to clean up and repair. The storm system was so severe it caused two roads in Tillamook County to collapse. The storms also caused the temporary closure of State Highway’s 101 and 26, due to flooding. The storm system damaged state highways throughout these counties with scour, washouts, debris flows and mudslides.