Medford, OR — Governor Tina Kotek formally requested President Donald Trump on Friday to declare a federal disaster in response to the widespread flooding and landslides that have devastated parts of southern Oregon earlier this spring. The request targets Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney counties, aiming to secure critical federal funding for recovery efforts.
Between March and April, southern Oregon experienced extreme weather conditions, including rapid snowmelt combined with record rainfall that caused rivers to overflow. The resulting floods triggered landslides that destroyed homes, businesses, bridges, and vital utility infrastructure. In light of the damage, Governor Kotek issued a state of emergency on March 18 and expanded it on March 31 to cover severe flooding in southeastern Oregon.
The federal assistance sought by Kotek is intended to support repairs to roads and buildings, provide aid to families displaced by the disaster, and bolster flood protection systems to mitigate future risks.
Despite President Trump’s previous comments describing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a “disaster” and suggesting that states should manage natural disaster recovery independently, Oregon’s leadership is pressing for federal involvement. Kotek’s press secretary, Roxy Mayer, emphasized the urgent need for federal aid to assist rural communities that have borne the brunt of the flooding.
“Although this disaster hit some of the most economically vulnerable communities of our state, residents had each other’s back and got through the initial emergency,” Kotek said in a statement. “But they can’t do recovery alone. These communities urgently need both state and federal support to help them recover.”
Harney County, in particular, suffered catastrophic impacts as flooding breached levees and caused the failure of the only wastewater treatment system serving the city of Burns and the Burns Paiute Tribe. The release of sewage-contaminated floodwaters created serious public health hazards, damaged numerous homes, and necessitated prolonged evacuations.
“This is the second major disaster Harney County has faced in a year, following wildfires in 2024,” said Erin McMahon, director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. “With limited local capacity, federal resources are essential to help these communities recover and to prevent future devastation.”
As the state awaits a federal decision, local officials and residents continue to grapple with the extensive cleanup and rebuilding required to restore stability to the affected regions.