The U.S. Department of Transportation said it will give $1.58 billion to help repair roads and bridges damaged by recent natural disasters.
The funds will go to 30 states, three territories and federal land management agencies to help them recover from disasters such as Hurricane Irene, the Missouri River flooding last spring, tornadoes and landslides.
“States and communities can rely on the federal government during these critical times,” Victor Mendez, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, said in a statement. “When disaster strikes, the department will do all it can to provide help to the affected areas.”
The largest amount, $182 million, will go to California to repair damage caused by landslides at Devil’s Slide in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vermont will get $126 million for repairs due to Hurricane Irene, which hit the state in late August.
Not all of the disasters are recent. Washington State will receive $30 million for ongoing repairs related to the Nisqually earthquake in February 2001, which damaged many areas in Seattle and the city’s Alaskan Way Viaduct.
