FHWA 05-10
Contact: Nancy Singer
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Announces More Than $338 Million to Repair Damaged Roads and Bridges
18 States to Receive Emergency Relief Funds 

WASHINGTON, DC – The federal government is providing more than $338 million to states across the nation to cover costs incurred to repair roads and bridges damaged by a variety of natural emergencies and catastrophic events, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced today.

“People cannot return to their daily lives and businesses cannot get back up and running again until transportation is restored after a natural disaster or catastrophic event,” said Secretary LaHood.  “This money helps the states get roads and bridges back in service so people can get back to their regular activities.”

A total of $338,865,050, under the Federal Highway Administration's emergency relief program, will help 18 states and American Samoa pay for damages caused by storms, flooding, hurricanes and other disasters and events.
"These communities have experienced significant losses,” Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said.  "Restoring roads and bridges is one of the most critical ways the federal government can help these areas fully recover from a natural disaster or catastrophic event.”

States receiving funding include:

  • North Dakota - $103 million for flooding in the Devil’s Lake region;
  • Louisiana - $ 81.5 million for damage due to Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav; and
  • Texas - $29.9 for hurricane damage (Dolly and Ike).

The funds will reimburse states to fix or replace highways, bridges and other roadway structures such as traffic signs, guardrails and lighting. Also eligible are costs associated with detours, debris removal and other immediate measures necessary to restore traffic flow in impacted areas.

The 2009 Continuing Appropriations Act and the 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Act both provide additional funding for the FHWA program which Congress annually authorizes at $100 million. The program reimburses states for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways that were damaged in disasters and catastrophic failures.

Emergency Relief Allocations

 

 

 

 

State

Event

Proposed
Allocation

Subtotal
by State

Alabama

May 2009 heavy rainfall

          729,000

       2,829,000

December 2009 heavy rainfall and flooding

       2,100,000

American Samoa

September 2009 Tsunami

     10,000,000

     10,000,000

Arizona

January 2005 flooding

     13,750,000

     16,828,147

July-August 2007 storms and flooding

       3,078,147

Arkansas

April 2009 storms and flooding

          861,786

          861,786

Georgia

Spring 2009 flooding

       2,659,308

     18,023,345

September 2009 rainfall and flooding

     15,364,037

Illinois

May 2009 severe windstorm

       2,412,304

       2,412,304

Indiana

September  2008 severe storms and flooding

          781,333

          781,333

Louisiana

August 2005 Hurricane Katrina

     74,500,000

     81,500,000

September 2008 Hurricane Gustav

       7,000,000

Maine

July 2008 heavy rains and flooding

       1,023,200

       1,023,200

Michigan

July 2009 I-75 tanker truck crash

     12,590,960

     12,590,960

Minnesota

March-May 2009 flooding

       7,800,000

       7,800,000

New Hampshire

April 2007 flooding

          820,160

          820,160

North Carolina

November 2009 Tropical Storm Ida

       1,600,000

       1,600,000

North Dakota

Spring 2009 Devils Lake basin flooding

     94,523,000

    103,064,000

Provided in SAFETEA-LU Section 1937

       8,541,000

Oregon

December 2008 severe winter storms

       5,000,000

       5,000,000

South Dakota

March 2009 rainfall and flooding

       1,847,452

       1,847,452

Tennessee

November 2009 US 64 rock slide

       3,853,363

       3,853,363

Texas

July 2008 Hurricane Dolly

       8,100,000

     29,900,000

September 2008 Hurricane Ike

     21,800,000

Washington

December 2005 storm

       1,557,000

     38,130,000

November 2006 storm

     10,060,000

December 2007 storm

       6,725,000

November 2008 storm

     15,410,000

October 2009 SR 410 landslide

       4,378,000

Total 

    338,865,050

    338,865,050

 

 


 

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