According to a Friday, January 5th press release, Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Tillamook counties to support recovery following damaging storms last month.
Executive Order 24-01 directs the Oregon Department of Transportation to provide appropriate assistance and seek federal resources to effect repair and reconstruction of damages to the federal aid highway system in the above-listed counties. The state of emergency declaration follows a damage assessment, which confirmed federal program eligibility and will expedite the process to receive federal resources.
Beginning December 1st, 2023, and continuing through December 12th, 2023, these storms resulted in heavy rain, landslides, and erosion in various locations within these counties, leading to critical transportation failures, which require significant effort to clean up and repair. The storm system was so severe it caused two roads, Miami Foley and Sandlake located in Tillamook County, to collapse. The storms also caused the temporary closure of State Highway 101 and 26 due to flooding. The storm system damaged state highways throughout these counties with scour, washouts, debris flows and mudslides.
“This emergency declaration will give ODOT the ability to seek federal resources to aid in the long-term recovery effort,” said Governor Kotek. “I am grateful to the local leaders, service providers, and state agency personnel who partnered in quickly assessing the damage and providing immediate aid for community members left vulnerable by these storms.”
