DOT’s Response to Hurricane Francine
The U.S. Department of Transportation, led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, is actively supporting response and recovery efforts in states affected by Hurricane Helene, with personnel on the ground and coordination across multiple agencies. Key actions include the Federal Highway Administration assessing infrastructure damage and preparing emergency funding, while the FAA is restoring airport operations and assisting FEMA with flyover assessments and fuel monitoring.
According to the Department of Transportation, as part of the robust, whole-of-government response to Hurricane Helene, the U.S. DOT is supporting response and recovery efforts in impacted communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. DOT personnel are on the ground in multiple locations.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has received regular briefings from USDOT operating administrations and has communicated with the governors of impacted states. Secretary Buttigieg visited FEMA Headquarters today to be briefed on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene and the whole-of-government emergency response and recovery actions. He also joined Cabinet colleagues to brief President Joe Biden at the White House.
US DOT actions to support ongoing Biden-Harris Administration’s response and recovery efforts include:
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA):
FHWA has assessed hundreds of bridges and other critical infrastructure across the Southeast in coordination with local, state, and Tribal governments. Currently, FHWA is also coordinating recovery efforts.
FHWA is prepared to rapidly process Emergency Relief (ER) funding requests. The ER program helps pay for long-term, permanent repairs, and other immediate emergency repairs, such as protecting remaining facilities and restoring essential traffic. It reimburses state, local, federal, tribal, and territorial governments for eligible expenses associated with damage from natural disasters or other emergency situations based on their requests.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
FAA is working with partners to ensure the national airspace returns to steady state operations. All airports across impacted states have reopened and flight cancellations have reduced from over 1,000 since late last week to less than 50 on September 30.
The FAA’s Security and Hazardous Materials Safety Communication Support Team has deployed to restore communications to impacted towers and airports, including delivering satellite communications kits to the Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina and ongoing work at Valdosta Regional Airport in Georgia.
FAA supported FEMA with two aircrafts to conduct flyover assessments and transport emergency personnel and gear, such as satellite communications kits. FAA is also monitoring fuel supplies at several airports in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina that are experiencing reduced fuel delivery due storm impacts on fuel suppliers.
