Central Oregon receives $100,000 in federal awards for wildfire recovery

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, alongside U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, announced $100,000 in federal awards to support wildfire recovery efforts and aid displaced residents in Central Oregon. The funding targets communities recovering from destructive wildfires that struck the region in July 2026.

The funding is awarded through the NeighborWorks Disaster Grants program and will be distributed to NeighborImpact. The Central Oregon nonprofit serves economically disadvantaged residents across Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

During the July 2026 wildfires, thousands of Warm Springs residents were forced to evacuate their homes and several residences were destroyed. U.S. Sen. Wyden highlighted the growing impact of wildfires on front-line rural areas across the state.

“As wildfires in central Oregon and statewide set new records every year in size and intensity, the rural communities on the front lines of these fights are the most in need of resources for recovery efforts,” Wyden said. “I applaud this federal award that will support Central Oregon communities including Warm Springs residents who were forced to flee from their homes and I will continue to fight for more resources to support wildfire prevention and recovery across Oregon.”

The funding will bolster NeighborImpact's Wildfire Recovery Fund, which provides emergency shelter, relocation assistance and essential household items such as baby supplies, hygiene products, housewares, laundry and cleaning supplies. U.S. Sen. Merkley noted the role of federal funding in helping families stabilize after disasters.

“When disaster strikes, Oregon's communities show up to help each other,” Merkley said. “These federal funds will help NeighborImpact provide critical support to Warm Springs families recovering from the devastating July wildfires, including emergency shelter, relocation assistance and essential household supplies. I'll keep fighting to bring federal resources home to Oregon so our communities have the support they need to recover and rebuild.”

U.S. Rep. Bynum stressed the importance of swift financial relief for displaced constituents facing sudden loss.

“No where to sleep. Only the clothes on your back. Food to go is the only option. All in the matter of one day,” Bynum said. “I've heard that story too many times from my constituents. People need help after an emergency and the faster that help comes, the better shot they have of rebuilding what was lost. And by help I mean money to get the basics. That's the difference this funding can and will make.”

Scott Cooper serves as executive director of NeighborImpact. Cooper emphasized that tribal communities require equal access to regional relief resources during emergency recoveries.

“Warm Springs deserves to be included in the regional response to wildfire and other needs on an equal basis with counties,” Cooper said. “Too often, tribal communities are a place to drive through, not a place to drive to. NeighborImpact values all our neighbors, including tribal neighbors and the fires that burned at Warm Springs this summer, while devastating, were respond to and will continue to be responded to vigorously and thoroughly with resources, support for displaced people and empathy from our organization and, I hope, neighboring communities. The congressional appropriation funded through NeighborWorks America is a much-appreciated and critical tool enabling us to help in a time of need.”