How Much is the Storm Costing Arizona?

PHOENIX - Last week's storms have left people in some areas cut off from food and water. Roads are a mess, and both the Governor and President Obama declared a state of emergency. Supplies are heading all over the state.

It will take time before we know how much the storm damage and emergency aid is costing the state, but Treasurer Dean Martin says we have the money to pay for it.

"There are reserve funds that are established for these types of emergencies, that the governor has given authority to release," says Martin.

Crews are working overtime and will now have to repair roads, which comes at a cost for a state in financial crisis.

Luckily, those funds have remained largely untouched by the Legislature's budget cuts. Much of the money used to fix roads and recover from emergencies is covered by the gas tax we all pay at the pump.

"They use those funds to cover these things. As a state, although the general fund is out of money, the state gas state is separate so they aren't able to steal those funds."

Meanwhile, some areas of the state are still in need of help. A large shipment of food left Monday morning for Chinlee, in northeast Arizona.

Navajo leaders asked for help from St. Mary's Food Bank, which sent out more than 500 boxes of food. Water, milk, and fresh produce is also on the way.

Those food boxes are enough to feed a family of six for 3 to 4 days.