Oroville Dam evacuations: Areas affected if the Dam bursts
RESIDENTS living near the Oroville Dam have been allowed to return home after an evacuation order was lifted. Here are the latest updates on affected areas.
A damaged spillway next to the Oroville Dam has threatened to burst
Workers fill giant sacks with rocks near Oroville Dam
Workers are racing to repair the damaged spillway at the Oroville Dam ahead a series of fresh storms.
Almost 200,000 residents were evacuated earlier this week when it was discovered that the emergency spillway was damaged.
Officials warned that a 30 foot wall of water could come crashing down on Oroville as a result of the damage.
Authorities were able to lower water levels in the reservoir enough that water stopped flowing down the spillway and have since strengthened the eroded areas with rocks.
But with heavy rain for this week, the situation remains unpredictable.
The evacuation order has been lifted, but a warning remains in place for the following areas:
Oroville and Thermalito, the areas south of Lincoln Blvd on the west side of Lincoln to Ophir Road.
All low-lying areas around the Feather River, which includes Gridley, Biggs, Yuba City, Loma Rica, and anywhere south of Butte County along the River.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has warned that residents “have to be vigilant”.
“There is the prospect that we will issue another evacuation order … if the situation changes,” Mr Honea said.
This map shows counties that have been evacuated
Butte County Superintendent of School, Tim Taylor, has confirmed that the following schools will remain closed for the rest of the week:
- Bangor Union Elementary School District
- Biggs Unified School District
- Durham Unified School District
- Feather Falls Union Elementary School District
- Golden Feather Union Elementary School District
- Gridley Unified School District
- Manzanita Elementary School District
- Oroville City Elementary School District
- Oroville Union High School District
- Palermo Union Elementary School District
- Pioneer Union Elementary School District
- Thermalito Union Elementary School District
- All Butte County Office of Education Schools and previously closed offices
Maps shared on Twitter show areas that would be affected if the Dam were to burst.
Great graphic from @sacbee_news article on Oroville situation showing possible inundation areas #orovillespillway #cawater #OrovilleDam pic.twitter.com/annk1heyDp
— Troy Barnhart (@TroyJBarnhart) February 13, 2017
Similarly, progression times. Believe graphics are originally @CAL_FIRE #OrovilleDam #OrovilleSpillway #cawater pic.twitter.com/FTDEVE0rH3
— Troy Barnhart (@TroyJBarnhart) February 13, 2017
Dam operators have been releasing water at a rate of 100,000 cubic feet per second through the main spillway in order to lower the lake level.
The main spillway is also damaged but has been holding under the strain according to Chris Orrock, a DWR spokesman.
Officials are aiming to lower levels to 850 feet before the storm hits. At 901 feet, water begins to flow over the emergency spillway.