Oregon's Governor Asks President Bush for Federal Emergency Aid

The Governor has authorized the use of the Department of Corrections mobile kitchen unit to travel to Vernonia to provide citizens and work crews with hot, nourishing meals.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has asked President Bush for an expedited federal declaration of emergency. In a letter sent to the President, the Governor wrote:

"I formally request that you declare a major disaster for the State of Oregon as a result of the severe storm and flooding which began on December 1st 2007 and has critically impacted Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Tillamook and Yamhill Counties. I have determined that this incident of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state of Oregon and the affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary."

In the letter, Governor Kulongoski states that on December 3rd, he launched the execution of the State Emergency Plan and issued a State Emergency Statewide for Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Tillamook and Yamhill counties and the lands of the confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and on the lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.

As outlined in the letter, Governor Kulongoski has taken unprecedented steps to assist the counties in responding to the disaster. He authorized the use of the Department of Corrections mobile kitchen unit to travel to Vernonia to provide citizens and work crews with hot, nourishing meals. Normally the use of this unit is limited due to federal restrictions, but the extreme situation does not allow for time to ask for a waiver.

"We cannot let red tape keep us from getting people the immediate help they need," said Governor Kulongoski.

Additionally, Governor Kulongoski moved quickly to provide funds and housing units from the Oregon Department of Housing for people made homeless by the storm. Technically, those units cannot be used without the recipient providing "proof of poverty" but Governor Kulongoski made the executive decision to use those funds and housing units immediately.

In his letter to the President, the Governor also laid out the scope of the damage as of December 5th 2007.

"Many roads are closed in the affected counties, thus restricting our response and assessment efforts. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will need emergency funds to repair Highways 26, 35, 30 and other secondary roads...additionally, 58,000 households are without power in Oregon and I am informed there is no way to restore their heat and power for at least three more days."

The Governor expects the federal declaration of emergency to be granted and in cooperation with FEMA to launch a joint preliminary damage assessment on Thursday, December 6th.

Additionally, state agencies continue aggressive assistance to affected counties.

"Thanks to the practice we received in the TOPOFF IV exercise, Oregon had a head start in dealing with this disaster," said Governor Kulongoski.

Kulongoski also points out that the emergency has highlighted the need for the Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network (OWIN), a communications tool that allows agencies, local communities, and emergency responders to communicate with each other across the spectrum.