The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will provide $871.2 million in Emergency Relief (ER) funds for disaster-stricken bridges and roads in 39 states, territories and tribal governments through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The sources of the damage vary region by region. For example, $220 million will be provided to Puerto Rico for ongoing repairs made necessary by the destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Another $157 million is headed to California for 2017 winter storms, among other matters. In Tennessee, $110 million is being dispatched primarily for storm damage caused earlier this year. Flooding in Mississippi, a volcanic eruption in Hawaii and further storms in Nebraska have all sparked funding as well. Tribal governments in California, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin will also benefit, however, with more than $6.5 million being awarded to them.
“This Administration is providing federal funding to help repair roads and bridges damaged during natural disasters including hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said.
The ER program is a reimbursement program, provided to states, territories, federal land management agencies, and tribal governments for expenses incurred by natural disasters or other emergencies. The funds are meant to help reconstruction and replacement efforts among local infrastructure, as well as the arrangement of detours while those efforts are underway.
“These funds will help restore the nation’s roads and bridges following severe weather events that have disrupted travel throughout the country,” Federal Highway Administrator Nicole Nason said.