WASHINGTON, D.C.- Mississippi will receive more than $400 million in disaster relief from Congress to repair damage caused by the flooding in the Lower Mississippi River Valley in the spring of 2016.
Around $30 million of that money will go straight to the Army Corps of Engineers for repairs on levees, dikes, and backwater improvements.
“Ongoing assessments of flood control systems, ports and navigation on the lower Mississippi indicate extensive and corrosive damage from flooding last winter and spring,” Sen. Thad Cochran said. “The strength of the Mississippi River levee system is measured by its weakest link. It was important that the Army Corps of Engineers has resources to ensure viable navigation and flood protection on the Mississippi and its tributaries.”
The funding is provided through the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, the Operations and Maintenance account, and the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program.
Nationwide, $1.02 billion is available for the Army Corps to repair damage done by floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters.
The Lower Mississippi River Valley includes Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois.
