Merkley, Wyden Press for Federal Support in Harney County’s Flooding Recovery
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are calling on President Trump to urgently approve Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for Individual Assistance (IA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the Harney County community as they continue to recover from the worst flooding the region has seen in nearly 70 years.
The flooding left hundreds of rural homes damaged and overwhelmed the City of Burns’ sewer system which required many residents to leave their homes to use portable toilets or travel to the next town to shower. Today, many of these homes remain contaminated due to the raw sewage that washed through the floors and along the walls.
“Raging waters damaged homes and small businesses and created dangerous health conditions,” the Senators wrote in their letter to the White House.
At the height of the flood on April 7 of this year, more than 1,400 people were advised to evacuate their homes in Burns and the Burns Paiute Reservation. This was a significant part of Harney County’s population, which is only around 7,400. The Senators also noted that this flood comes on the heels of other natural disasters in the region, including wildfires and severe drought.
“The combined toll of these events has pushed many rural Oregonians to the brink,” the Senators stressed. “While the people of Harney County are resilient and deeply rooted in the values of hard work and self-reliance, they also rely on government at all levels to fulfill its basic duty in times of crisis.”
The scale of the disaster in Harney County, combined with limited local resources, has left many rural Oregonians without the means to rebuild on their own—making Individual Assistance through FEMA critical.
“Smart, targeted federal aid can make a lasting difference – especially when delivered in cooperation with local officials who know their communities best,” the Senators closed.
The full text of the Senator’s letter can be found by clicking HERE.
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