Posted on 02/19/2017 2:05:36 PM PST by nickcarraway
Communities immediately downstream of California's Lake Oroville dam would not receive adequate warning or time for evacuations if the 770-foot-tall dam itself — rather than its spillways — were to abruptly fail, the state water agency that operates the nation's tallest dam repeatedly advised federal regulators a half-decade ago.
Regulators at the time recommended that state officials implement more public-warning systems, carry out annual public education campaigns and work to improve early detection of any problems at the dam.
Six years later, state and local officials have adopted some of the recommendations, including automated warnings via reverse 911 calls to residents. But local officials say the state hasn't tackled other steps that could improve residents' response, such as providing routine community briefings and improving escape routes.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
As long as they get their California State Income Tax forms on time, all will be well.
“Electrical malfunction, all systems normal, heavy, non-muslim humidity expected shortly...”
Let’s face it; they are just working class people, mostly white. You really think the government of California cares about them??
Officials say this...officials say that.....
any of these official officials live down stream?
Oroville Dam: Feds and state officials ignored warnings 12 years ago
I guess Ah-nold was too busy diddling the maid to care.
The route 70 bridge over the feather river would be taken out along with all the cars sitting on it. Then the waters would wash away all the cars on 70 heading towards the bridge. Not as bad as Katrina but pretty bad.
Nobody is talking about the human toll. Even if that dam doesn't burst, those people's lives are ruined. They most probably have mortgages and jobs that depend on the region being safe. If they leave, they won't be able to sell their houses and they'll have to start over somewhere. That will be with credit destroyed because of their debts.
The best thing that could happen for them can only happen if they have flood insurance. As many as possible family members should get to safety. Then they should pray that a deluge washes their house away. Then insurance will cover it. Otherwise they're trapped in a soggy mess without many options.
I wish news would spell out some of this stuff about the human toll. People might then think twice about the potential for environmental disaster.
Title should rea “If Dam Fails No Time to Inform Residents” aka too late.
Time to leave is now. Easy for me to say not living there.Pretty sad situation to be in. Kinda like wondering how long till you drown
Ya think??? Boy im sure as hell glad they told us that!! I'da never thunk it!!
for the life of me I cant grasp the idea of living below a dam to begin with!! same as living on a flood plain along a river!
You really think the government of California cares about them??
= = =
I self declare as a Snail Darter.
Now they will care.
We’ve built two new homes in our life time. Both times I made certain that the new lot had no ground water, was not on a flood plane, and not downstream from a damn. It’s just common sense.
Seriously, I have zero sympathy for anyone down stream.
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Wave.”
“Wave who?”
“Wave bye-bye sucker.”
advised federal regulators a half-decade ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“half-decade” = one lustrum.
Not cool
I loved back packing in the Sierra Nevadas when I lived in California. Florence Lake has a clamshell type dam. It was completely empty one winter so I took a walk under and along the dam. you could literally scratch the concrete away with your fingernail. I don’t think that’s a good sign. I imagine all the concrete dams in California are that way. Who needs dams when you’ll never have rain again and you need a 100 billion dollar bullet train between Shafter and Bakersfield.
I would say that if you live in a flood-prone location downstream from this dam then consider getting out of harm’s way for the next 3-4 days as there is a ton of rain coming in tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday. If the system can hold up against this one, then there will probably be time to manage things back to a good place, but I wouldn’t stick around for the next three days, especially if I could afford to go on a side trip. If this dam is going to go, it would be Tuesday or earlier.
It is essentially the orders our police chief gave his officers on what to do if they saw someone fall into the Truckee river.
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