SACRAMENTO,CA-More than 180,000 people in Northern California were ordered to evacuate late on Feb 12 due to erosion of the emergency spillway in the nation’s tallest dam, The Oroville Dam. Several Sikh gurdwaras in the area opened their doors to people in need of places to spend the night.Among these were three in Sacramento,and others in Manteca,Tracy,Stockton and Rio Linda.
Thousands of residents from counties including Yuba, Butte and Sutter were told to leave their homes immediately. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg tweeted that individuals evacuating the Yuba County area could seek shelter in at least seven local Sikh gurdwara.Sacramento is about an hour and a half south of Oroville Dam. “We’re well prepared,” Dr. Gurtej S. Cheema of Sacramento’s Capital Sikh Center told the media. The gurdwara is one of the closest for residents leaving Yuba City. “We have meals, shelter. We can accommodate at least 50 people here.”
Cheema said that after evacuation orders were announced, members of the gurudwara delivered enough bedding for 50 people to spend the night at the temple. They also prepared hot tea and meals for evacuees to eat once they arrived. “We have three families over here right now, and we’re expecting at least 10 more [to spend the night],” Cheema added. Overall, he said the temple had received 30 calls from individuals saying they were on their way, fighting gridlocked traffic in the area. “We’re glad we can help and are available,” he added.
Early Feb 13,authorities reported the risk from the dam was not as severe as initially warned,but residents remained evacuated,as more thorough evaluation of the situation was underway. The dam started to overflow after winter storms brought heavy waters to the area parched by drought for four years.But another major cause is the dam’s aging infrastructure.
Cheema said that after evacuation orders were announced, members of the gurudwara delivered enough bedding for 50 people to spend the night at the temple. They also prepared hot tea and meals for evacuees to eat once they arrived. “We have three families over here right now, and we’re expecting at least 10 more [to spend the night],” Cheema added. Overall, he said the temple had received 30 calls from individuals saying they were on their way, fighting gridlocked traffic in the area. “We’re glad we can help and are available,” he added.
Early Feb 13,authorities reported the risk from the dam was not as severe as initially warned,but residents remained evacuated,as more thorough evaluation of the situation was underway. The dam started to overflow after winter storms brought heavy waters to the area parched by drought for four years.But another major cause is the dam’s aging infrastructure.
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