Sisolak declares state of emergency after 6.5 magnitude earthquake strikes near Tonopah
Gov. Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency Thursday after an earthquake on May 15 damaged three highways in three Western Nevada counties.
The earthquake along the Walker Lane fault system struck near Tonopah last week with a magnitude of 6.5, making it the largest quake reported in Nevada since 1954. Since the quake hit, dozens of aftershocks have rattled the area.
Although the earthquake's epicenter was outside of the town, it caused at least $700,000 in damage to several highways, including U.S. 95, U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 360 across Esmeralda, Mineral and Nye counties, according to Sisolak's emergency declaration.
"Nevadans and those traveling through our state need safe roads," Sisolak said in a statement Thursday evening. "We will do everything in our power to maintain the safety and security of everyone traveling on our roadways. This declaration of emergency will help the Nevada Department of Transportation respond quickly and efficiently."
The declaration allows the state to access Federal highway Administration Emergency Response funding.
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