BOTHELL, Wash. – FEMA is on the ground in Oregon to support the state’s response to devastating wildfires, and to deliver federal assistance made available under the Emergency Declaration approved on Thursday by President Trump.
FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont, the FEMA Region 10 Incident Management Assistance Team, and a FEMA Integration Team are working side by side with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management to determine needs and help coordinate the federal response. In addition, FEMA’s Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Bothell, Wash., is activated and mobilizing resources to Oregon to support state, local, and tribal partners.
Initial staging areas are in place for commodities to reduce the time it takes deliver supplies where they are needed. An Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) technical assistance expert is helping to determine state needs, and has four US&R teams in transit; three with K9 capabilities and one US&R Incident Support Team. FEMA’s Mobile Emergency Response Support vehicles are in place to provide communications support and power generation for responders. Eight tractor-trailer trucks of meals, water, cots, and blankets arrived at the federal staging area on Sept.11, and seven additional tractor-trailer trucks with commodities are expected to arrive Sept.12.
The Emergency Declaration is in addition to funding provided through Fire Management Assistant Grants (FMAGs) to assist with fire suppression in Oregon. So far in 2020, FEMA has approved 15 FMAGs for fires in Oregon—most of which were approved this week. President Trump’s Emergency Declaration authorizes FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the historic wildfires on the local population; to provide assistance for emergency measures needed to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety; and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe. It does not provide direct financial assistance to individuals.
An Oregon Wildfire Resource Website has been created to help Oregonians stay informed at wildfire.oregon.gov. For temporary sheltering needs, Oregon wildfire survivors can find locations available at www.RedCross.org/shelter.
FEMA’s number one priority is public safety. Residents are asked to heed all orders from local officials. If you want to help, visit oregonrecovers.communityos.org.