The top local stories this morning from KERA News: $25 million dollars is now “immediately available” to help Texas repair flood-damaged roads and bridges in the aftermath of Harvey.
The U.S. Transportation Department released the emergency relief funds - at the state's request – from the Federal Highway Administration to help pay for the costs of temporary repairs and then to facilitate the return of transportation services in the coming weeks.
More than 1,500 state Transportation employees have been mobilized to assess and address the roadway damage.
Officials said more than 530 roads in Texas remain flooded or closed, with some areas seeing highway asphalt swept away by high waters.
Other stories this morning:
- A spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Texas thinks the cost of damage from Hurricane Harvey could rival that of Hurricane Ike in 2008. With $12 billion in insured losses after it made landfall in Galveston, Ike was the costliest storm in Texas history.
- The Dallas City Council today will consider approving 5 million dollars in emergency relief for victims of Hurricane Harvey. The item was added to the agenda late last night. It's not known what that money will cover.
- KERA’s Christopher Connelly has a report from downtown Houston, where many evacuees are taking shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
- The Texas Rangers have pledged at least a million dollars for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in Houston. The Dallas Cowboys already announced their preseason game against the Houston Texans tomorrow will double as a fundraiser.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
