Governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency on March 10, 2023, in Churchill, Douglas, and Lyon Counties, due to ongoing severe weather conditions. On May 16, he amended that declaration to include additional areas that have been impacted by heavy rainfall, flooding, rockslides, avalanches, and infrastructure damage.
In addition to recognizing all of the counties and tribes who have issued declarations to date, the amendment directs the Nevada Department of Transportation to formally request assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program.
The declaration enables impacted areas to continue to receive state and federal assistance as they work to protect citizens and repair damage from the storms.
Lombardo’s first declaration came on the heels of Churchill County declaring a state of emergency at their March 2, 2023, commission meeting in preparation for flood mitigation efforts due to the elevated snowpack from the unusually wet winter in the Sierra Mountains. On March 6, the City of Fallon declared a state of emergency.
On April 28, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster assistance would be made available to Nevada to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in Douglas, Eureka, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, and Storey counties for severe storms and flooding from March 8-19, 2023. Churchill County was not included in that declaration.
County Manager Jim Barbee said on Monday that there is no guarantee of funding in these situations. “We knew when we agreed to take these actions to protect the community. We will pursue diligently reimbursement of the weir project from the federal government.”
Officials at the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District did not respond to a request for information on the ongoing water management/flood mitigation situation.
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