Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced over $12 million in federal funding to repair and reconstruct roads damaged by natural disasters across Georgia, including those damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Where is this funding coming from? The funding is being provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program.
It will support roadway repairs across Georgia, including in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, following damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Rafael, and severe ice storms.
Which projects will this new funding support? The funding includes $8.9 million to repair roadways and drainage structures in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests that were heavily damaged during severe ice storms earlier this year.
The funding package also includes $2.3 million to address widespread damage to traffic signals, roadways, signs and sign structures that were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Nearly $841,000 will support communities in South and East Georgia where Hurricane Rafael caused several rivers to overflow their banks, flooding roadways, damaging culverts and causing washouts.
What key figures had to say:
- Sen. Raphael Warnock: “Communities across our state have been through a lot in the wake of these devastating storms, and for many, the work of rebuilding is far from over. This federal funding will help repair roads damaged by these storms and make sure Georgians can safely get where they need to go.”
- Sen. Jon Ossoff: “Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we are delivering these resources to help improve Georgia’s roads and highways that were impacted after Hurricane Helene and other storms.”
What is the FHWA’s Emergency Relief Program? This program is a permanently authorized function of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund, which is supplemented by appropriations through Congress.
The Trust Fund is routinely supported by motor fuel and vehicle taxes, but is often provided extra funding by Congress.
Federal aid for disaster-damaged roads goes back to the Hayden-Cartwright Act of 1934 but was standardized by the Federal-Aid Highway and Highway Revenue Act of 1956.
