U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces Additional $750,000 'Quick Release' Emergency Relief Funds For South Dakota

Press Release

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced an additional $750,000 in "quick release" Emergency Relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help South Dakota repair roads damaged by heavy rains last month.

These funds are in addition to an initial "quick release" payment to the state of $750,000 announced on June 26 (see http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1419.cfm).

"By speeding repairs to the roads and bridges damaged during the recent storms, we can help South Dakotans get their lives back to normal more quickly, too," said Secretary Foxx.

Among the many locations throughout the state, the Emergency Relief funds will be used to make repairs at two locations on SD-19 near Vermillion in Clay County, two locations on SD-34 in Ziebach and Mead Counties and three sites on SD-46 near Beresford in Union County.

On June 16, torrential rains flooded southeast and northwest portions South Dakota. Swollen rivers flooded streets and homes throughout the state, making travel impossible for thousands. The next day, Gov. Dennis Daugaard declared a state of emergency. According to state estimates, the storm caused as much as $10 million in damage.

Sioux Falls received more than 13 inches of rain in June -- almost 11 inches more than average, making the recent storm the state's third-highest one-day rainfall.

"Our Emergency Relief program is vital to the people of South Dakota, and other states similarly affected by storms of this magnitude," said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. "We want to do whatever we can to help workers repair damaged roads and bridges, so life can return to normal as soon as possible."

The funds from FHWA's Emergency Relief program will reimburse the South Dakota Department of Transportation for emergency work done to highways and bridges caused by flood damage.

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