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WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and the entire Michigan House delegation sent a letter to Acting Administrator Pollack of the Federal Highway Administration supporting the Michigan Department of Transportation’s request for $50 million in resiliency funds to strengthen pump station generators and other flood prevention infrastructure.

This letter, with strong, bipartisan support, comes as many Southeast Michigan communities are recovering from recent devastating flooding, which could have been alleviated given stronger flood prevention measures across the region.

The lawmakers wrote, “As we have discovered, many of these areas rely on pumps to prevent water from collecting on roadways, however these pumps were insufficient in containing the massive rainfall due to power failures – leading to widespread flooding, vehicles destroyed, and road closures. These closures have had a significant disruptive impact on our communities, businesses, and local economy despite the valiant efforts of State and Local officials to maintain two-way traffic in the aftermath of this crisis. One of the nation’s main highway arteries that connects cities and commerce across the upper Midwest, Interstate 94, was severely affected and sections were shutoff for weeks. And this flooding is not new—it happens regularly and will likely continue.

“While MDOT has taken active measures to alleviate repeated issues, additional support is required to ensure the continued operation of pump stations during future large-scale weather events. These requested funds would make long-term repairs and investments in our infrastructure to prevent future flooding and protect the lives, livelihood, and property of Michigan residents…Substantive improvements, like addressing the need for improved pump station generators, would significantly curtail the potential impact of future storms in the region.”

To view the full letter, please click here.