U. S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $97.8 Million in Emergency Relief To Repair Infrastructure Damaged by Disasters |
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Topics: U.S. Department of Transportation
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Federal Highway Administration
April 5, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday April 5, 2001
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 15-01
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today announced that $97.8 million in emergency relief funds will be provided to 13 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to repair federal-aid roads that have been damaged as a result of flooding, storms and other natural disasters.
Secretary Mineta today also announced that an initial allocation of $20 million in emergency relief funds will be provided to the state of Washington to repair federal-aid roads and bridges that were damaged in the Feb. 28 earthquake that struck the Seattle area and other parts of the state.
“Helping states following an emergency is an important responsibility of the federal government,” Secretary Mineta said. “Restoring damaged roadways is one of the most significant ways we can help local communities to fully recover from natural disasters, and that's why we’re doing what we can to help these states and territories complete the restoration process.”
The $97.8 million in emergency relief funds, which are administered by the department’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), was provided in response to requests from states and other jurisdictions for help to repair federal-aid roads and bridges. FHWA division administrators in each state work closely with state and local officials to assess damage and review funding requests.
FHWA money is awarded after the President or the Governor issues a formal emergency proclamation and the state files a preliminary damage assessment for its highways and bridges on the federal-aid system. The funds reimburse the state for the damage repair work that is already completed and provides funding for the remaining damage repair work to correct major or unusual damage to federal-aid highways.
Eligible repair work includes reconstructing damaged bridges and pavement surfaces, establishing detours, removing slides and debris, and replacing signs, lighting and guardrails.
The $97.8 million will be allocated as follows:
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State |
Event |
Additional FY 2001 Allocations |
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Arizona |
October 2000 Storm |
3,000,000 |
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Arkansas |
December 2000 Ice Storm |
12,000,000 |
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Hawaii |
November 2000 Flooding |
32,968,000 |
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Idaho |
February 1996 Flood |
457,000 |
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Maryland |
September 1999 Hurricane Floyd |
52,000 |
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Minnesota |
July 1999 Storm |
410,000 |
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New Jersey |
September 1999 Hurricane Floyd |
9,900,000 |
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North Dakota |
April/May 1999 Flood |
5,800,000 |
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North Dakota |
June 2000 Flood |
842,000 |
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Puerto Rico |
September 1998 Hurricane
Georges |
5,300,000 |
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Ohio |
January 2001 Rockslide on Route
7 |
2,873,000 |
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Oregon |
October 2000 Heavy Rains |
1,500,000 |
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Virgin Islands |
September 1998 Hurricane
Georges |
510,000 |
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Washington |
February 28, 2001 Earthquake |
20,000,000 |
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Wisconsin |
May/June 2000 Storm |
2,234,000
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Total |
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97,846,000 |