FEMA Approves Coronavirus Aid for Oregon

Volunteers transformed the Oregon Convention Center into an emergency shelter last weekend. MOTOYA NAKAMURA / MULTNOMAH COUNTY

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Sunday that Oregon now qualifies for special emergency funding due to the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

According to FEMA's press release, funding is available for Oregon state, tribal, and local governments, as well as some non-profits. In other states hit hard by the coronavirus, FEMA funding has been used for things like temporary field hospitals. Some states with high death counts have asked for FEMA funding to help cover mortuary costs.

As of Sunday morning, there are 548 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oregon, and 13 total deaths. Experts from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) expect the state's numbers to peak in the first two weeks of April.

The new FEMA funding is available because Donald Trump has approved a "major disaster declaration" in Oregon. According to FEMA, that designation is backdated to January 2. That means FEMA funding may be available to cover efforts already underway, such as the new emergency shelters for unhoused people in Multnomah County.