This audio is automatically generated. Please let us know if you have any comments.
Dive brief:
- The US DOT will provide $1.86 billion in emergency relief funding to repair roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters, according to a June 18 news release.
- The funding includes more than $908 million to repair damage from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in September 2024. The investment brings the Federal Highway Administration’s total infrastructure commitment for Hurricane Helene damage to $3.4 billion across all affected states, including $2.9 billion in North Carolina alone, the release said.
- The remaining funds, approximately $952 million, will go toward ongoing repairs for overall storm damage recovery across the country, the DOT said.
Diving knowledge:
Southeastern states are still rebuilding transportation infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Heleneone of the deadliest storms to hit the US since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.
Helene first made landfall in Florida in September 2024, then moved through Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The storm killed at least 250 peopleaccording to a National Hurricane Center report, and caused severe damage to roads, bridges, power grids, cell phone towers and other public infrastructure, including water systems and rail lines.
The storm particularly affected the western part of North Carolina and the eastern part of Tennessee, especially in the mountainous regions, according to the National Hurricane Center. Landslides and debris flows in the area destroyed public and private property. The storm was the most devastating natural disaster in western North Carolina’s history, the National Hurricane Center report said.
“The Federal Highway Administration will continue to work closely with states until all damaged roads and bridges are restored,” FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster said in the statement. “Getting them up and running again is essential.”
