Oregon appeals FEMA denial of hazard mitigation aid after December storms

Lane County communities that were hit by the December storms may get help repairing damage, but they still face a gap in money meant to prevent the next disaster. Oregon has appealed FEMA’s denial of statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, a pot state officials say could help keep flood-prone roads, landslide corridors and wind-battered public facilities from failing again.

The appeal follows FEMA’s April 7 major disaster declaration under FEMA-4907-DR, which authorized Public Assistance for Clackamas, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Tillamook, Union and Yamhill counties. But in an April 23 letter, FEMA said statewide hazard mitigation funding was “not warranted” and told Gov. Tina Kotek the decision could be appealed within 30 days.

Kotek had asked for the broader declaration on February 18 after heavy rain, wind, widespread flooding, landslides and mudslides swept Oregon from December 15 through December 21, 2025. Her request said about 587 people were under Level 2 evacuations on December 18, and 1,219 people were under Level 3 evacuations at the peak on December 19. The storm also killed one person in Yamhill County, who died by drowning.

A joint preliminary damage assessment carried out from January 26 through February 12 validated $15,454,468 in costs across 13 counties, and nine counties met the per-capita threshold for Public Assistance. Lane County was among the counties cleared for that immediate recovery aid, but the denied hazard mitigation money is the funding that can help communities reduce the next round of losses before winter weather returns.

Oregon emergency management officials say losing the statewide mitigation grant would leave a major gap in the state’s ability to strengthen long-term resilience, especially in places that face repeated flooding, slope failure and wind damage. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said it remains committed to supporting local partners through recovery and pressing for mitigation money that reduces future disaster losses.