The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will provide $25 million in Emergency Relief funds to help Texas repair infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao recently announced.
The funds were released immediately following the state’s request and will be used to restore emergency access to affected areas and to repair damaged bridges and roads. Houston officials said some bridges and roads are buckling under the weight of the flood waters.
“I have mobilized the Department of Transportation to provide whatever assistance Texas requires to restore the state’s transportation systems,” Chao said. “The funding provided today will help the state to act immediately and represents the beginning of our commitment to help repair Texas’ affected infrastructure.”
A major disaster relief package should be approved by Congress soon, President Donald Trump said.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved emergency-fuel-waiver requests designed to ease fuel storages caused by the storm.
The waiver allows emergency-response and disaster-recovery vehicles in Texas to use non-road diesel fuel.
It also eliminates the requirement that vehicles use low-volatility gasoline until Sept. 15. The waiver applies to 13 Georgia counties whose gasoline supply has been disrupted.