Sisolak declares emergency over quake-damaged roads
Nevada Department of Transportation via AP
This Friday, May 15, 2020, photo provided by the Nevada Department of Transportation shows earthquake damage that has closed U.S. Highway 95 for repairs after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake near Tonopah.
Thursday, May 21, 2020 | 6:30 p.m.
Gov. Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency Thursday after a central Nevada earthquake caused extensive damage to roadways late last week.
On Friday, a 6.5 magnitude quake hit Tonopah and the surrounding area, causing damage to U.S. 95 and U.S. Routes 6 and 360 in Esmeralda, Mineral and Nye counties. The temblor was the largest Nevada has seen in decades.
“Nevadans and those traveling through our state need safe roads. We will do everything in our power to maintain the safety and security of everyone traveling on our roadways,” Sisolak said in a statement. “This declaration of emergency will help the Nevada Department of Transportation respond quickly and efficiently.”
According to the statement, emergency repairs to reopen the roads were not enough, and further work is expected to cost over $700,000. Because of the high cost, an emergency declaration was needed to access funding from the Federal Highway Administration.