Federal agencies are earmarking emergency relief money to help states with transportation infrastructure repairs in the wake of natural disasters and catastrophic events dating back to 2023.

Hurricanes Helene, Milton and Debby in the southeast, flooding in the northeast and southwest, wildfires in the western U.S. as well as the collapse of the Frances Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Md., are among the list of relief allocations.

Last month, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced $1.86 billion in emergency relief funding would help accelerate repairs to infrastructure.

This includes more than $908 million to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene and brings FHWA total commitment for Helene damage to $3.4 billion.

"As hurricane season begins, we're reminded that when disaster strikes, its essential leaders mobilize quickly to help American families in need," said Duffy. "Our roads and bridges are essential infrastructure that keep our local economies moving."

Sean McMaster, FHWA administrator, said the agency would continue to work closely with states until all damaged roads and bridges are restored.

"When transportation links are broken, this causes interruption to people's lives and our economy — getting them back up and running again is essential."

DOT said the remaining balance of the $1.86 billion emergency package will fund continued repairs from the 2024 flooding and mudslides

It also will cover 2025 storms and flooding in Arizona, multiple atmospheric river events in the west and other disasters across the country.

Helene, which made landfall in 2024, brought devastating floods to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

The storm caused extensive loss of life and an estimated $78.8 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Government procurement consultant Strategic Partnerships Inc. reported that the storm caused not only flooding but landslides across western North Carolina. It damaged thousands of miles of roads and more than 1,000 bridges and culverts, said the firm.

North Carolina, which estimates rebuilding could run into the tens of billions, will receive $415 million for repairs as a result of Helene.

Addressing Catastrophic Failure, Natural Disasters

The next largest relief allocation is for a catastrophic failure. Approximately $300 million is allotted to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, said Strategic Partnerships.

"The Baltimore bridge fell in March 2024 after a container ship lost power and struck a pier," the firm reported.

It said the full rebuild is estimated at approximately $2 billion, with the project taking a design-build approach.

California is in line to receive approximately $260.7 million spread across a long list of separate events going back several years, said Strategic Partnerships.

"These include repeated atmospheric river storms, statewide winter storms and wildfire-related damage across the state."

Among the list of relief recipients is Puerto Rico at approximately $90.8 million for a cluster of hurricane and storm events. Arizona will receive $17.7 million.

The agency specifically pointed to Arizona's 2025 storms and flooding in Gila, Mohave and Pinal counties.

Strategic Partnerships stressed that states have up to two years from the date of a disaster to apply for funds. They must submit a detailed list of eligible repair sites and costs at the time of application.

The emergency relief fund works as a reimbursement program rather than an upfront grant. This means states must cover the cost of repair work while the FHWA pays back the eligible costs as projects move forward.

"Federal money covers most but not all of the cost," said the consulting firm. Emergency relief generally reimburses 90 percent on interstates.

It covers 80 percent on other federal-aid highways. The most urgent work is eligible for full federal funding in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

"The balance falls to the states, which carry out the rebuilding by putting the work out to private contractors through their own procurement," said the firm.

Buoyed By Support in Wake of Devastating Floods

President Donald Trump announced recently that $22.6 million in federal aid is headed to Wisconsin in the wake of flooding in the northeastern part of the state.

The FEMA funds, as radio station WIXX reported, will go to repairs after "historic" flooding impacted Outagamie and Waupaca counties in April.

"This aid will make a monumental difference for communities … whose losses totaled twice their annual tax levy," said Tom Nelson, Outagamie County executive.

The president approved $32 million in disaster aid for Michigan after storms hit dozens of counties in the state this spring.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Trump said the funding was being provided as part of a disaster declaration he was granting the state.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said storms caused nine tornadoes, heavy rain and widespread damage and flooding in 43 counties across the state.

It was announced this month that Missouri will receive $27.6 million to assist with ongoing recovery efforts following storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley had urged immediate federal relief after severe weather caused extensive infrastructure damage, reported Newstalk KZRG. The resulting damage impacted hundreds of households across multiple Missouri counties, and local and state officials estimated millions in damages. The funds are expected to repair critical public infrastructure, compensate local governments and provide aid to families recovering from the storms.

In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved nearly $32 million in disaster aid for Vermont, which was hit with floods in 2023 and 2024.

The grant money "should be moving out," said Brooke Rollins, agriculture secretary. "We signed Vermont yesterday," Rollins said in announcing the funds.

According to Vtdigger.org, the $31.7 million will go toward flood relief, specifically for farmers who have limited access to FEMA funds.

The funding will support farmers who have faced infrastructure damage, flood-related losses or market losses.

Douglas Farnham, Vermont's chief recovery officer, called it "an excellent award," and said the state is very grateful for it, reported the news agency.

"I know that our agency's been working with the federal agency for months to get this right, and we're really happy to be moving forward with it."

Summer floods in 2023 and 2024 devastated communities across Vermont. The waters caused nearly $1 billion in damage to public infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has allocated nearly $124 million in funding for northwestern fishery resource disasters.

The funds, announced by NOAA, was appropriated by Congress under the American Relief Act of 2025.

Funds will address disasters that occurred in Oregon, California, Alaska and among the Squaxin Indian tribe between 2019 and 2023, said the agency.

"Fishery resource disasters have devastating effects on local communities and our economy," said Neil Jacobs, NOAA administrator.

The allocation demonstrates a continued commitment to American fishermen, said Jacobs.

He added that it also upholds Trump's vision of America as the world's dominant seafood leader.

These disasters greatly concern the fishing industry and the communities that depend on the fisheries, said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries.

"NOAA will continue to provide guidance and resources to boost recovery and support more resilient fishing communities in the future."

The funds will improve the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the impacted fisheries, said NOAA. Funds can be used to assist fishermen, charter businesses, shore-side infrastructure, subsistence users and other impacted community groups.

Activities that can be considered for funding include fishery-related infrastructure projects, habitat restoration and job retraining.

Crossing Fingers Help Arrives Soon

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen requested Trump issue a major disaster declaration related to wildfires that hit the state this spring.

In announcing the request, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the funding help cover the cost of damage to public infrastructure.

The damage resulted from the Morrill, Cottonwood, Ashby and Minor fires in which more than 821,000 acres were burned.

Damage to roads, bridges and power infrastructure would be mitigated by the funding, according to NEMA. Power infrastructure was the most impacted as fires burned through transmission corridors and distribution systems, the agency said.

"As Nebraska faced historic wildfires, the people of our state came together to jumpstart the recovery process," said Pillen.

Pillen submitted the request for a disaster declaration to the White House and FEMA.

"We appreciate President Trump's attention to this matter and his long-standing support of our state when we have requested disaster recovery funding."

Preliminary damage estimates by FEMA and NEMA have reached nearly $9.7 million, said NEMA. State officials say federal assistance is needed to support long-term recovery efforts.

Also requesting a major disaster declaration for 2025 wildfires and flooding is Colorado, reported coloradonewsline.com.

The Lee and Elk fires grew rapidly and forced evacuations in and around the town of Meeker after lightning started the fires last August.

The news agency reported that more than 1,200 firefighters were assigned to the fires at their peak intensity in mid-August. The fires were fueled by extreme drought and critical fire weather conditions. The blazes resulted in more than $27 million in damage.

Flooding in Archuleta, La Plata and Mineral counties last October damaged more than 60 mi. of road, culverts, drainage structures and embankments.

Drinking water, wastewater and recreation infrastructure also were damaged. The floods have caused more than $13 million in damages, said coloradonewsline.com.

Colorado has spent more than $57.5 million to support recovery from disasters since July 2024.