Federal disaster assistance has been extended to public entities in Douglas County as a result of the severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides and mudslides occurring Dec. 6-23, 2015, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced. Douglas County joins Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington and Yamhill counties under the disaster declaration signed by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2016. FEMA’s Public Assistance program offers supplemental financial assistance on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities in designated counties. The program also provides an opportunity for mitigation projects that protect damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for certain hazard mitigation measures. “The addition of Douglas County to the declaration is due to the work and collaboration of many agencies and individuals,” said Clint Fella, state coordinating officer at Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management. “We are pleased that Douglas County will benefit from this assistance.” The state of Oregon, which administers the Public Assistance program, will conduct briefings with local officials in these counties and affected tribal governments, to provide information on the assistance available and how to apply. “By assisting local, state and tribal governments and looking for ways to reduce future damages, state and federal disaster assistance has an impact on every individual in these communities,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont. FEMA reimburses 75 percent of eligible costs covered in the declaration.
