$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
CBSN
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
"We are providing this initial round of funding so there's no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. "The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today's emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources."
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people - with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has cautioned that a looming government shutdown could lead to longer wait times for travelers at airport security checkpoints. The warning comes as the TSA announced it is expecting a record 40 million airline passengers to take to the skies over a two-week period that began Thursday.
With Christmas only a few days away, many Americans may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but few will end up walking in a winter wonderland. The warm and above-average temperatures in the weather forecast across the continental U.S. for Christmas week of 2024 are expected to keep any precipitation that falls as rain, not snow, for many parts of the country.
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