The Emergency Relief Fund is for the repair or reconstruction of Federal-aid highways and roads on Federal lands which have suffered serious damage as a result of a natural disaster or a catastrophic failure from an external cause. This program covers only those criteria and procedures relevant to the Emergency Relief (ER) program for Federal-aid highways. These are public highways other than those functionally classified as local roads or rural minor collectors. To learn more about the process please review the Federal Emergency Relief Manual, Brief Guide, and Federal Aid Handbook.

The United States Congress authorizes in Title 23, United States Code Section 125, a special program from the Highway Trust Fund for the repair or reconstruction of Federal-aid highways and roads on Federal lands which have suffered serious damage as a result of a natural disaster or a catastrophic failure from an external cause. This program is referred to as the ER program. It supplements the commitment of resources by individual States, their political subdivisions, or other Federal agencies to help pay for unusually heavy expenses resulting from extraordinary conditions.