The federal government is making $679 million available immediately to states across the nation to cover costs incurred to repair roads and bridges damaged by recent natural emergencies and catastrophic events.


"When natural disasters strike, restoring transportation is the first stop on the road to recovery," said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said during a visit Thursday to Galveston, Texas, which was decimated by Hurricane Ike.

The emergency relief funds will go to 28 states and Puerto Rico to pay for damages caused by storms, flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters, including the summer 2008 Midwestern floods and Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. The funds will be used to reimburse states for fixing or replacing damaged highways and bridges, establishing detours, removing debris and replacing signs, lighting and guardrails.

Peters also visited Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Iowa is receiving $23 million in emergency relief funds, including $22.3 million to reimburse the state, counties, and cities for work to repair road and bridge damage stemming from the major Midwest flooding this May. Another $740,000 is provided for 2007 storms.

The funds are part of the 2008 Disaster Relief and Recovery Supplemental Appropriations Act that provided additional emergency relief funds. Congress also provides an annual authorization of $100 million for the program each fiscal year.

A state-by-state break down of the emergency relief funds can be accessed at www.dot.gov/affairs/dot15608chart.htm.