President Trump Signs Presidential Emergency Declaration to Fund Hawk Fire Recovery Efforts

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Today, President Donald J. Trump signed Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo's request for a Presidential emergency declaration, granting Nevada federal assistance to aid in Hawk Fire recovery efforts.

"This emergency declaration gives Nevada the federal resources we need to move quickly and aggressively on Hawk Fire recovery," said Governor Joe Lombardo. "I'm grateful to President Trump and his administration for responding swiftly to our request and standing with Nevada. We will continue to support impacted communities and ensure Washoe County has the resources necessary to rebuild and recover."

The Presidential emergency declaration, spearheaded by Governor Lombardo and the Nevada Office of Emergency Management (NV OEM), authorizes FEMA to provide technical assistance and subject matter experts to alleviate the impacts of the Hawk Fire. The specific services will evolve as Washoe County and Nevada's gaps are identified.

"The Presidential emergency declaration is key to accelerating Hawk Fire recovery efforts," said NV OEM Chief Brett Compston. "The Nevada Office of Emergency Management remains dedicated to supporting Washoe County and those impacted by the fire. This is a significant step toward regaining a sense of normalcy in these difficult times, and we're grateful for the federal government's assistance."

NV OEM and Washoe County conducted Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) on August 28, to evaluate the extent and severity of damage sustained in the fire. Later this week, assessment teams plan to return to affected neighborhoods for Joint PDAs with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to determine whether the disaster meets the eligibility criteria required to apply for additional federal assistance.

State and local officials will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available and recovery efforts progress. For more information and recovery resources, residents are encouraged to visit oem.nv.gov/recovery-resources.

For all media inquiries, please contact Kieran Dazzo, Nevada Office of Emergency Management PIO, at [email protected].