For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2006

Statement on Federal Assistance for Oregon

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oregon and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from December 18, 2005, through and including January 21, 2006.

Federal funding is available to State 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 the counties of Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, and Wheeler; and in the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

R. David Paulison, Acting Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Lee Champagne as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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