Rhode Island will receive $1.65 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help pay bills from the flooding that hit the state Oct. 7 to 15, forcing hundreds of people from their homes and businesses, two lawmakers today announced.
“This federal funding is critical to help repair our roads and bridges that were damaged … last fall,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said in a midday news release. “It is even more important in light of recent flooding that occurred throughout the state.”
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In all, he said, $685 million will be released to 31 states and territories where roads and bridges were damaged in recent natural disasters. The money is part of an emergency supplemental appropriations package, supported by Reed, that was approved by Congress in June.
Reed also has been pushing for a resolution that would call on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate flood-plan management in the Blackstone Valley, and seek ways to reduce damage in the flood-prone watershed .
The emergency relief announced July 31 – to be disbursed by the DOT’s Federal Highway Administration – can be used to pay bills for such projects as establishing detours, repairing or replacing damaged highways and bridges, removing debris, and replacing signs, lighting and guard rails, U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee said in his own Monday statement.
“With the allocation of these federal dollars,” Chafee said, “Rhode Island can recoup many of the expenses incurred in the wake of last October’s flooding.”
“These funds are crucial to restoring communities and getting local economies back on track,” said acting U.S. Transportation Secretary Maria Cino.
