October 19, 2020 10:45 a.m.  

Staff with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are continuing to deal with the recovery effort following the recent wildfires.

Nate Custer of FEMA said the agency has received disaster assistance applications from 19,830 individuals. FEMA has awarded $19.8 million to eligible survivors of the wildfires.

Custer said the deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is this Friday. Applicants can call 503-570-5000, or go to www.oregon.gov/employ/disaster. A Crisis Counseling Helpline is available at 800-923-4357.

Custer said the Sheltering Task Force has finalized the agreement between Oregon and the American Red Cross to provide longer term non-congregate sheltering to displaced survivors through the end of the year. Custer said sheltering needs continue to decrease as people begin to return home. To date, non-congregate sheltering has been provided for 1,713 individuals in 881 rooms across 62 hotels in Oregon.

Custer said staff with FEMA remain at the old Glide Middle School to answer questions from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.