RI getting $3.2m for Sandy recovery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI/AP) -- Rhode Island is going to receive $3.2 million in federal funding in a first round of federal funding earmarked to help local towns recover from Superstorm Sandy. The funding comes in block grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for housing and rebuilding efforts.

Sen. Jack Reed's office announced the funding in a news release Wednesday.

Rhode Island's cut is part of a $5.4 billion first installment being distributed to the Ocean State as well as Maryland, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

"I appreciate [HUD Secretary Shaun] Donovan and the Obama Administration moving quickly to get these flexible recovery funds to Rhode Island so we can help homeowners, small businesses, and communities that were hit hardest by the storm," said Reed.

"We have a long way to go, but this is a significant boost to our recovery efforts.”

Rhode Island also got $3 million from the federal Department of Transporation for road repairs immediately after the storm, and $1.5 million from the Department of Labor for temporary employment in cleanup projects, Reed's office noted.

The Oct. 29 storm was one of the worst to strike the Northeast. From Maryland to Rhode Island, it's blamed for more than 130 deaths and tens of billions of dollars in property damage.