Wallowa County Urges Local Businesses to Report Wildfire Losses in Statewide Impact Survey

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, August 17th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

ENTERPRISE — Local leaders in Wallowa County are urging area business owners affected by this season’s wildfires and wildfire smoke to document their losses through a statewide damage survey.

The effort, promoted jointly by Wallowa County officials, the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce, and local cities—aims to build a strong case for state and federal relief funding.

The Oregon Business Self-Reporting Damage Survey, launched by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), allows business owners to self-report financial disruptions, including canceled bookings, lost revenue, reduced operating hours, or fewer customers.

Local Impacts Mounting

Wallowa County Commissioner Cody Lathrop highlighted the urgency for local businesses to participate.

“This came to my attention after hearing from a local business that has already experienced approximately $15,000 in cancellations because of the smoke, and I am concerned that many other businesses across Wallowa County are experiencing similar losses,” Lathrop stated.

While filling out the survey does not guarantee direct financial assistance, county leadership emphasizes that comprehensive reporting is critical for securing future recovery resources, such as U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans or state aid packages.

How to Participate

The survey applies to both direct physical fire damage and economic harm caused by indirect factors like heavy wildfire smoke.

Who should fill it out: Any business in Wallowa County experiencing lost revenue, canceled events, reduced business hours, or physical damage due to wildfires/smoke.
Where to access: The questionnaire takes only a few minutes and can be completed online via the OEM Damage Survey Portal.
Note: The survey is an information-gathering tool and does not replace filing standard insurance claims with private providers.

Local business owners with questions or seeking the survey link can also check the official websites of Wallowa County, the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce, or their local city government offices.