WASHINGTON — On Saturday, the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that North Carolina will receive $100 million in Emergency Relief funds to help pay for repairs in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
According to a press release, these funds "will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilties."
As of Saturday at noon, over 650 roads remained closed in western North Carolina because of the storm, according to a release from Governor Roy Cooper's Office earlier Saturday.
“Working in close coordination with North Carolina, we are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today's emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
According to the release, Buttigieg has received regular briefings from the USFOT operating administrations and has communicated with Cooper. This past week, he visited FEMA Headquarters to be briefed on the ongoing impacts of Helene.
Additional funds needed to repair damage in North Carolina will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations, according to the Department of Transportation.
If you have been affected by Helene, here's a list of helpful resources.
Looking for ways to support residents of western North Carolina affected by Helene? We've compiled a list of reputable organizations who are already delivering aid, and you can find it here.
If you would like to donate online to the American Red Cross, you can use the following link: WFMY News 2 is supporting the American Red Cross.
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