Obama signs disaster declaration for Oregon after March 11 tsunami

Obama signs disaster declaration for Oregon after March 11 tsunami

2011-03-26 08:49:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Oregon after a tsunami struck its coastlines earlier this month, causing damage.

The tsunami that struck Oregon and other western U.S. coastlines on March 11 was the result of an enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off northeastern Japan. The tsunami caused no casualties in Oregon, but resulted in heavy damage to local ports.

Obama signed the disaster declaration on Friday and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area that was affected.

"Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the tsunami wave surge in Curry County," the White House said. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

The large tsunami as a result of the earthquake devastated the eastern coast of Japan, killing likely more than 20,000 people. Two people were also killed in California and Indonesia as a result of the tsunami.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-26