Legislation known as the BE SAFE ACT of 2019 was recently introduced to the U.S. Senate in an attempt to create a competitive grant program of up to $100 million to support roads and bridges utilized for rural emergency evacuation routes.
That funding would be managed under a Department of Transportation (DOT) program, which would disperse it accordingly to those projects which improve emergency evacuation routes, improve or expand existing roads and bridges, and assist the accessibility of broader thoroughfares. The effort was introduced by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Doug Jones (D-AL).
“Louisianans need reliable routes to get out of harm’s way when a natural disaster like a hurricane approaches,” Kennedy said. “We all know how bad Louisiana’s bridges and roads are. Our infrastructure has been sadly neglected. Rather than forcing rural and small communities to wait for the state’s investment, this legislation will empower them to improve evacuation routes. This will be a huge help to residents in financially challenged communities.”
Jones echoed the sentiment for Alabama, noting its reputation for weather that can be as sudden as it is extreme. Hurricane season can be particularly exacting on the region. When evacuations are declared, residents only have so much time to seek shelter.
“While it is crucial that communities get the disaster relief they need after the fact, it is important that folks can better prepare for natural disasters and to help make our communities safer so we can reduce the impact and cost of inevitable severe weather,” Jones said. “This bill will help make Alabamians safer while also improving our aging roadways in rural communities that badly need infrastructure investment.”