Joint State/FEMA disaster assessments underway for Oregon flooding

Dec 07,2007 00:00 by Bend_Weekly_News_Sources

SALEM, Ore. – At the request of Governor Ted Kulongoski, federal and state officials are conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) to assess damage to homes, businesses and public facilities from this week’s storm and flooding.

According to Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) Director Ken Murphy, PDA teams consisting of representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and OEM will visit and inspect damaged areas, document damages and talk with local officials.

“We’ll also be reviewing Oregon National Guard fly-over video footage of impacted counties,” said Murphy. “It’s a partnership effort designed to provide a clear picture of the extent and locations of damage.”

FEMA Regional Administrator Susan Reinertson agrees. “We’ll be looking at the overall scope of damages to establish if recovery is beyond the capabilities and resources of state and local governments,” said Reinertson. “State and local officials are still heavily engaged in life saving/life sustaining operations, and we’ll be careful that our joint assessments do not intrude on these priority missions.”

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.