WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) announced the emergency release of $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief program for Kentucky to fast-track repairs to federal highways and roads on federal lands that were damaged by severe flooding last month. The funding comes just days after Congressman Rogers met with local leaders from communities along the Cumberland River to discuss immediate needs in each county.

"This emergency funding is a great first step to help rebuild roads that were washed away or dessimated by landslides across the state, and specifically here in Southern and Eastern Kentucky where damages far outweigh resources to make quick repairs," said Congressman Rogers, who serves as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. "I applaud the Federal Highway Administration for getting this much-needed funding out the door quickly, so we can begin restoring normalcy for our hardest-hit communities. I also applaud our local leaders who have worked hand-in-hand with state leaders to provide estimates and detailed overviews of the damage across our region." 

To date, a total of 146 damaged Federal-aid sites across 10 counties have been reported in Kentucky, resulting in an estimated $9.5 million in emergency relief program-eligible damages. A majority of the damaged sites are located in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.  

According to the Federal Highway Administration, eligible projects include emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage, or protect the remaining facilities, as well as permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to its pre-disaster condition. 

Follow Congressman Rogers' work in Washington and Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District online at halrogers.house.gov and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.