20,000 Punjabis affected as California dam spillway develops cracks

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar/New Delhi, February 13

Lakhs of people, including 20,000 Punjabis residing in US counties of Oroville, Butte and Sutter in northern California, were asked to evacuate on Monday by the local authorities after the emergency spillway of the Oroville Dam developed cracks resulting in release of water from the lake.

Lake Oroville, 150 miles northeast of San Francisco, is one of California's largest manmade lakes, and the 770-ft Oroville Dam is the tallest in the US.

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The lake is a central piece of California's government-run water delivery network, supplying water for agriculture in the Central Valley and residents and businesses in southern California.

According to Jaswant Singh Bains, president of Yuba City Gurdwara, the evacuation announcement was made around 6.30 am (local time) on Sunday when huge number of devotees was present in the gurdwara to pay obeisance on ‘sangrand’.

Read: Lakhs told to evacuate as spillway at California dam on verge of collapse

“The sudden announcement created a panic amongst the devotees. We quickly wrapped up the programme and asked them to return to their homes,” Bains said.

He added that though evacuation was only recommended in Yuba City, around 20,000 Punjabis got stuck in the three counties where the evacuation was ordered following the potential threat of uncontrolled flood waters flowing down to low-lying areas.

According to Surinder Mehta, a resident in Butte County, the evacuation announcement was made several times. “They kept on announcing repeatedly that it is not a drill and the area residents should move to safer places,” Mehta told The Tribune over phone.

He said though the damage to the spillway was reported around four days ago, it was only late Sunday night that the evacuation was ordered.

The emergency spillway was rated to handle 250,000 cubic feet per second water. However, water began flowing over the emergency spillway on Saturday for the first time in its nearly 50-year history after heavy rainfall.

Unexpected erosion chewed through the main spillway earlier this week, sending chunks of concrete flying and creating a 200-ft long and 30-ft deep hole.

Meanwhile, centres were set up at various places in Chico, Paradise and Silver Dollars fairground in Butte County to accommodate area residents in case the flood waters spill over the county.

Law enforcement agencies, infrastructure maintenance personnel, health and emergency service providers have rushed to the affected areas to help people in distress. Butte jail inmates, too, were evacuated following the potential threat of flood in the area.

According to Satnam Chahal, chairperson North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) whose volunteers are helping evacuees in affected area, the threat seemed to have declined a little.

“The helicopters kept on depositing the rocks filled with containers throughout the day to strengthen the potential fatal points on the spillway. Also, the water level inside the reservoir has decreased considerably,” said Chahal.

Though gurdwaras in the areas have planned to shift ‘Swaroops’ to safer places, they have now postponed the plans till next announcement, he added.

Meanwhile, the local county administrations are updating the evacuees on their official Facebook page and even providing immediate respite to those who got stuck during the evacuation.

Gurdwaras offering food, shelter to affected

Gurdwaras in Sacramento, California, are offering food and shelter to all the residents evacuated from the Yuba City, following fears of the Oroville Dam collapsing.

“Sikh temples in Sacramento offering Food & Shelter. They are open for ALL people evacuated from Yuba City #OrovilleDam #OrovilleSpillway,” tweeted social activist, Harjinder S Kukreja.

Yuba County Office of Emergency Services posted an evacuation order on Facebook saying, “Yes, an evacuation has been ordered. All Yuba County on the valley floor. The auxiliary spillway is close to failing. Please travel safely. Contact family and friends. Help the elderly. Take only routes to the east, south, or west. DO NOT TRAVEL NORTH TOWARD OROVILLE!!!!!”  

The California Department of Water Resources also issued an emergency evacuation order on Facebook that reads, “Officials are anticipating a failure of the Auxiliary Spillway at Oroville Dam within the next 60 minutes. Residents of Oroville should evacuate in a northward direction, toward Chico. Other cities should follow the orders of their local law enforcement.” 

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for a possible dam failure. The areas that can be affected are Oroville, Palermo, Gridley, Thermalito, South Oroville, Oroville Dam, Oroville East and Wyandotte. — With agency inputs