[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14816-S14817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DISASTER IN OREGON

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today with my colleague 
Senator Smith because many Oregonians are hurting at home today. For 3 
days this week our State has been slammed by a storm, the strength of 
which boggles the mind--hurricane force winds with gusts exceeding 120 
miles an hour and almost a foot of rain, raising water levels in some 
areas by 25 feet in less than 48 hours. Hundreds of our people are now 
in shelters, tens of thousands are without power and don't have phones.
  Thousands of Oregonians have been willing to step forward with 
incredible acts of courage and generosity. Using helicopters and boats, 
the Oregon National Guard and the Coast Guard have come through for our 
folks, rescuing hundreds of people trapped by rising water. Along with 
activating the National Guard, the Governor has brought every State 
agency in to help take care of the needs of the displaced, get 
communications restored, fix the roads, clear the bridges, and begin to 
assess the extraordinary damage.
  We especially today, both of Oregon's Senators, thank the Oregon 
chapter of the Red Cross, because they immediately moved into the 
affected areas and opened shelters. They provided meals and they have 
now been assisting with the cleanup.
  The Governor has asked the President to declare a major disaster in 
our State and all of the Oregon congressional delegation joins the 
Governor in urging the President to grant this request immediately.
  Folks from FEMA, the emergency management agency, have arrived in our 
State. They are going to begin making formal damage assessments today.
  Senator Smith and I talked to Secretary Chertoff on the phone and we 
asked for the Department of Homeland Security to pull out all the stops 
to aid our State immediately. The immediate priority is to get our 
citizens the help they need to survive during these critical days. Once 
the full extent of the damage is known, Oregon and Washington, the 
hard-hit Pacific Northwest, are going to need Federal assistance in 
recovering from the disaster. This is surely going to entail rebuilding 
roads and other essential parts of our infrastructure.
  Senator Smith and I are committed this morning to getting the help 
that is so urgently needed by the people of Oregon. We believe it is 
critical in terms of timing that this help be made available now so 
folks can get back on their feet. We intend to pursue a variety of 
options, including adding emergency funding to future spending bills if 
that is necessary.
  I yield the rest of my time to my colleague Senator Smith. We believe 
on Oregon issues there are no partisan questions. Today the people of 
our State are hurting and both of Oregon's Senators are committed to 
getting the help that is needed to sustain lives at home, to the 
Pacific Northwest, and the people of Oregon immediately.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon is recognized.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for being here with me 
today. Moments ago, we phoned Secretary Chertoff to discuss how we, as 
Oregon Senators, can best help those of our State who have been 
devastated by this storm. Both Senator Wyden and I wish we could be 
with them now. On Monday, Senator Wyden and I hosted our sixth annual 
economic forum in Portland. We rushed to the airport after the event in 
the midst of this incredible storm to find that our outgoing flight was 
unable land in such horrendous conditions. We fortunate enough to find 
another flight to Washington so we could be present for Tuesday's vote.
  Again, we would both like to be with the citizens of our State. We 
are instead using what leverage we have in Washington to ensure the 
Federal Government responds to the best of its ability. We have called 
upon the President to declare this event a major disaster and free up 
Federal resources to begin rebuilding this devastated area.
  We would like in particular to commend FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard. 
FEMA took a lot of criticism as a result of Hurricane Katrina, but 
their response in Oregon has been spectacular. We thank them on behalf 
of all Oregonians.
  We also thank the Coast Guard. Within the first 24 hours, the Coast 
Guard responded to well over 600 emergency calls and was able to save a 
tremendous number of lives. For this, we thank them.
  As I consider our country, our values and the kinds of catastrophes 
that have beset our country, we understand that we cannot stop Mother 
Nature. But these catastrophes cannot and will not break the spirit of 
the American people. I look at the great motto above your desk, sir, E 
pluribus unum--out of

[[Page S14817]]

many, one. I am reminded that when events like this occur, the many 
show up and become one. They risk their own lives to save others. This 
is a tremendous act of selflessness and I applaud the heros fighting to 
save our fellow Oregonians.
  I thank our Federal responders, and I urge a disaster declaration as 
soon as possible. In the Northwest, we have natural disasters ranging 
from earthquakes to volcanoes. And there are storms that barrel in off 
the Pacific which can do an unbelievable amount of damage. They cause 
landslides, tear the roofs off our homes, and swell our rivers to 
record-breaking levels. Near the town of Tillamook, a river rose 
literally 20.5 feet within just a few hours, sweeping away livestock, 
homes, and tragically, unsuspecting residents. But the response from 
all types of government and nongovernment organizations, including the 
Red Cross, has been magnificent.
  Many church communities are coming to the rescue. Communications have 
been lost. Amateur radio operators have filled the airwaves, connecting 
rescuers to those in need of rescue. We thank them and pledge that--as 
united Oregon Senators--we will do whatever we can for the sake of our 
State. We thank the Federal Government for their swift response and 
again urge an immediate disaster declaration to strengthen our ability 
to heal the psychological and physical wound left by this storm. We 
will begin to repair the damage that has afflicted so many counties in 
Oregon.
  I assure the people of our State that we in the Federal Government 
will do our part. We will stay on this job until it is done and until 
Oregon has fully recovered.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey is recognized.

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