The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has allocated $871.2m to repair roads and bridges damaged by storms, floods and other unexpected events.

The Emergency Relief (ER) fund has been allotted to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief programme.

The money will be used to rebuild roads in 39 states, as well as American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

US Secretary of Transportation Elaine L Chao said: “This Administration is providing federal funding to help repair roads and bridges damaged during natural disasters including hurricanes, wildfires, floods and earthquakes.”

The ER programme will reimburse the states and other organisations’ expenses incurred for the replacement and reconstruction of damaged highways, bridges and roads caused by natural disasters.

Puerto Rico was awarded around $220m to aid the repair work after hurricanes Maria and Irma, while California was given $157m, which included $115m to aid the relief work after the 2017 winter storms.

Mississippi received $18m from the US DOT for the flooding in 2018 and 2019 and Nebraska received $68m for the storms in March this year.

Tennessee received $110m, out of which a major portion will be directed towards damage caused by the severe storms this year.

For damages caused by volcanoes and earthquakes, Hawaii received $12m.

Tribal governments received around $6.5m for disasters in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Michigan and California.

Federal Highway Administrator Nicole R Nason said: “These funds will help restore the nation’s roads and bridges following severe weather events that have disrupted travel throughout the country.”