Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for awarding the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) $3 million in emergency repair grants to assist in the reconstruction of roads and highways damaged during the January and February 2017 flooding in Northern Nevada.
“Safe roads and highways are vital to a safe community and stable economy,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Emergency repair grants help ensure the Nevada economy does not suffer as a result of the flooding, but most importantly it ensures the safety of Nevadans and those traveling through the area. I thank the Federal Highway Administration for providing critical funding to restore necessary infrastructure and rebuild highways impacted by the floods.”
BACKGROUND:
- Title 23, U.S.C, Section 125, authorizes an Emergency Relief (ER) program within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, for the repair or reconstruction of Federal-aid highways and roads on Federal lands that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from an external cause. These funds are awarded to a State after the President or the Governor issues a formal emergency declaration and the State files a request for ER for the cost of damages to its eligible highways. Eligible repair work includes emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage, or protect the remaining facilities as well as permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to its pre-disaster condition.
ER NV 17-1: January 7, 2017 Atmospheric River Storm
- A severe atmospheric river storm event beginning on January 7, 2017 dropped a significant amount of rain onto a heavy snowpack in the northwest portion of the state. This event caused widespread damage throughout northwest Nevada. The following counties were affected by this event: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine. The FHA grant is awarded in the amount of $2,000,000.00 to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
ER NV17-2: February 2017 Flooding
- A severe atmospheric river storm event beginning on February 5, 2017, dropped a significant amount of rain onto a heavy snowpack in the northeastern and northwestern regions of the state. This event caused widespread flooding, resulting in roadway damages throughout the affected regions. The following counties were affected by this event: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe. The FHA grant is awarded in the amount of $1,000,000.00 to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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