The federal government is sending $100 million in emergency aid to repair and reopen roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, the Federal Highway Administration announced Saturday.
“Working closely with North Carolina, we are providing this first round of funding so there are no delays in repairing and reopening roads and restoring critical routes,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in an emailed statement. “The Biden-Harris Administration will support North Carolina every step of the way.”
The money will “help get transportation networks back up and running safely and will be followed by additional federal resources,” Buttigieg said.
North Carolina requested the money, and federal highway officials were fine with sending the amount to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the secretary said.
“It has been devastating to watch the North Carolina families, neighbors and communities devastated by Helene explain what it means to delay or even cut off access to significant assistance,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Kristin White in the statement.
The aid to North Carolina followed a quick release of money from the Federal Highway Administration to South Carolina earlier this week.
