FEMA Pulls the Plug on More than $230 Million of Funding to Safeguard Oregonians Against Natural Disasters
No applications to safeguard Oregon communities against natural disasters will be reviewed and no funds will be awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), impacting state projects valued at $230 million.
In a news release, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management revealed details of the 2024 projects that have been canceled by FEMA.
Port Orford, Medford, Grants Pass, Clatsop County, and Astoria are the Losers
Known as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, the decision to shut the door on projects to help local communities prepare for natural disasters will impact Port Orford, the Medford Water Commission, Grants Pass, Clatsop County, the City of Astoria Columbia Memorial Hospital, and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.
With FEMA pulling the plug on an upgrade of drinking water supply infrastructure that is vulnerable to damage by earthquake, wildfire, and drought, Port Orford and its 1,146 residents are the losers.
The grant would have ensured that the city has sufficient water to meet average daily demand while maintaining adequate emergency storage to cope with natural hazards.
The federal government would contribute $6,566,537, with Port Orford providing an additional $691,214.
Medford’s $50 Million Water Infrastructure Protection Project Gets Axed
The $50 million Medford Water Commission Utility and Infrastructure Protection Project would have implemented improvements to four systems that are part of the Rogue Valley Water Supply Resiliency Program.
The goal was to enhance the resilience of the water system against seismic events, wildfires, and droughts caused by extreme weather conditions.
The federal government share was $34,806,505, with Medford contributing $14,516,834.
The Grants Pass Water Treatment Plant Relocation Project would have relocated the water treatment plant outside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) to prevent system failure in a flood.
Grants Pass Has Already Spent Over $5 Million on Scrapped Project
Grants Pass has already made substantial investments in design work, contributing over 50% of the required matching costs, and the loss of federal grant funds jeopardizes the broader scope of the project.
The city has already invested over $5 million in pre-award technical engineering and design, in addition to costs incurred for the sub-application process.
The federal government share was $50,000,000, with Grants Pass kicking in an additional $60,800,302.
Incorporating a Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Refuge Structure (TVERS) into the expansion of the Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, would have created a multi-purpose facility designed to shelter residents at an elevated level in the event of a tsunami.
The federal share was $13,897,122, with Clatskop County contributing $5,955,909.
The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development planned to spend more than half a million dollars to upgrade Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans for the Burns Paiute Tribe, and Columbia and Umatilla Counties, to enhance emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts while mitigating the future impacts of natural disasters.