FEMA Resources / Request for Lodging Assistance

FEMA REQUESTS SHELTERING OPPORTUNITIES

The State of Oregon is experiencing some of the most unprecedented emergencies to date affecting thousands of people throughout the region. As people are forced to evacuate their homes, the State of Oregon is committed to finding non-congregate sheltering and assistance for evacuees. In partnership with the American Red Cross, State and Federal agencies to better coordinate efforts we are asking for your help to lodge evacuees in the short term. Your local Destination Management Organization (DMO)/Convention or Visitor Bureau/Chamber of Commerce will be calling you soon to collect lodging data on a regular basis. They will be asking lodging properties for the following:

• Name of the lodging facility
• Location and contact information   
• Total occupancy ability of the lodging facility
• Current vacancy rate percentage of the lodging facility  
• Is your lodging facility family and pet friendly?
• Is the lodging facility able to provide extended lodging for evacuees who may have lost their residence in the recent disaster?

 
If you have any questions about this process, please contact Matt Finn at Travel Oregon. Are you already providing lodging to evacuees? See below information to share with them.
 
There may also be a need for long term lodging for evacuees. If you are a lodging facility that can help the people of Oregon’s recent disasters, please register in the FEMA Emergency Lodging Assistance (ELA) Portal.  Registration not only allows FEMA to easily locate your facility but also enables the agency to provide reimbursement for housing of evacuees. On this site, businesses providing lodging can find program FAQs, a user guide, and other information to clarify program requirements.

​Please note that the Oregon Department of Revenue will not be collecting lodging taxes for rooms using either FEMA transition shelter assistance or Red Cross hotel vouchers due to wildfire displacement. We expect that local jurisdictions in Oregon will adopt the same practice.

If local transient lodging taxes do not need to be collected, depending on your local jurisdiction these room rents may still need to be reported with all other rents on any transient lodging tax reports you may fill out. However, those rents paid with vouchers would be deducted. Please check with your local government on this subject.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR DISASTER SURVIVORS & BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES

General information:

• Oregon Wildfire Disaster Page for latest FEMA assistance updates
• FEMA Mitigation Publications (information on Office of Emergency Management, American Red Cross, CDC recommendations, post-wildfire recovery, prevention/preparation for wildfires, flooding)
  

FEMA's highest priority right now is ensuring disaster survivors understand there are services available and the first step is getting registered. FEMA is asking if our lodging partners, especially those currently lodging evacuees, are willing to distribute the following attachments:

• FEMA Registration Flyer (English & Spanish)
• Start Your Recovery Process
• 4 Ways to Apply for Disaster Aid
• 3 Ways to Apply for Disaster Aid
• Disaster Assistance Info (gif)
• (NEW) Replacing Lost or Missing Documents (English / Spanish)

Please consider printing the flyer for display and have copies on hand for individuals. Also, it would be very helpful and appreciated if lodging partners could post one, or all of the attached graphics on their social medial accounts to help get the message out.   
 
See also some important information for those working to recover from the fires:

• Citizenship and Immigration Status Requirements for FEMA Disaster Assistance - (English / Spanish)
• You May Be Able to Get Disaster Assistance (Qualified Aliens) - (English / Spanish)

The goal is to amplify the messaging to both lodging entities AND victims affected by the recent disasters to ensure they are registered with FEMA to get assistance. 

For more wildfire information:

• Oregon Wildfire Resources
• Travel Oregon's Ways to Help During Oregon Wildfires

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