FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison Announces $96.4 Million for Texas Road and Highway Repairs Due to Natural Disasters
Funding Damage Sustained by Flooding and Hurricanes Ike, Dolly, Rita
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, today announced the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is allocating $96,494,804 in emergency relief highway funding for the State of Texas for the repair or reconstruction of Federal-aid highways and roads that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters.
“This funding from the Federal Highway Administration is one more step on our path to recovery,” said Sen. Hutchison. “With this announcement, Texas will receive major additional funding to help recover from the destruction and economic loss caused by these natural disasters,” said Sen. Hutchison.
The following are declarations and their corresponding FHWA allocation:
· Hurricane Rita............September 23, 2005..............$3,460,240
· El Paso Flooding..........July 31, 2006..................$14,947,260
· Texas Flooding............May – August 2007...............$6,087,304
· Hurricane Dolly...........July 23, 2008...................$2,000,000
· Hurricane Ike.............September 13, 2008.............$70,000,000
According to the FHWA, these funds are awarded to a State after the President or Governor issues a formal emergency declaration and the State files a request for Emergency Relief for the cost of damages to its eligible highways. Eligible repair work includes emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage, or protect the remaining facilities as well as permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to its pre-disaster condition.
The federal government made $679 million available immediately to 28 states and Puerto Rico to cover the costs incurred to repair damaged roads and bridges caused by other natural disasters and catastrophic events.
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