LITTLE ROCK, AR The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) recently received emergency relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), according to AHTD officials.

The funding totals $14,209,043 and was provided by the FHWA's Emergency Relief Program. The AHTD will put the funding to use to repair damage on its highway system caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the State beginning Dec. 23, 2015, and continuing through Jan. 22, 2016. 

Flooding caused extensive pavement damage and erosion at many bridge and culvert locations. In addition, the storms triggered shoulder and embankment erosion on numerous highways as well as landslides.  

On Dec. 28, 2015, Governor Asa Hutchinson proclaimed the following counties eligible for disaster relief: Benton, Calhoun, Carroll, Drew, Franklin, Logan, Madison, Ouachita, Perry, Polk, Searcy and Washington. The Governor later modified the Proclamation to include Baxter, Chicot, Crawford, Jackson, Jefferson, Little River, Marion, Montgomery, Sebastian, Bradley, Clay, Desha, Faulkner, Greene, Johnson, Randolph, Scott, Sevier, White, Yell, Boone, Izard, Lawrence, Monroe, Pike, Newton and Stone Counties.

A subsequent proclamation by President Barack Obama also included Boone, Bradley, Clay, Dallas, Greene, Independence, Marion, Mississippi, Newton, Pike, Randolph, Stone, and Woodruff Counties. 

On December 10, 2016, Congress provided $1 billion in supplemental Emergency Relief funds to address a growing backlog of emergency relief funds needed nationwide.