UPDATED — original evacuation notice extended to the south and now includes 130,000 people.
This is an evacuation order by Department of Water Resources this afternoon around 4:15pm. Evacuation now includes the southern end of the Sacramento Valley from Oroville to Wheatland (near Beale Air Force Base) and west to the Sacramento River (see maps in comments).
Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered. A hazardous situation is developing with the Oroville Dam auxiliary spillway. Operation of the auxiliary spillway has lead to severe erosion that could lead to a failure of the structure. Failure of the auxiliary spillway structure will result in an uncontrolled release of flood waters from Lake Oroville.
In response to this developing situation, DWR is increasing water releases to 100,000 cubic feet per second.
Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered.
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Complete list of area evac centers: Camelot Equestrian Park, Clark Rd. and 70 in Paradise accepting large animals
Pleasant Valley High School Gym: 1475 East Ave. Chico, CA
Glenn County Fairgrounds accepting people, animals, RVs Paradise Alliance Chuch, Clark Rd. people and small animals
Elks Lodges in Paradise and Chico accepting up to 100 RVs people and small animals in ballroom
Black Butte Lake Campgrounds opening to evacuees
American Legion: 6550 Skyway, Paradise
Paradise Pines Association in Magalia open for 150 campers
Paradise Lutheran Church has room for 12 RVs (Gwen, she is also offering her home. her number 327-7007)
Rolling Hills Casino in Corning offering limited space for RVs (they don't have much space and are filling up soon)
In Motion Parking Lot in Chico
Neighborhood Church: 2801 Notre Dame Blvd, Chico, CA
Fairgrounds in Orland, Rolling Hills Casino RV Park, and Tehama County Fairgrounds in Red Bluff are all available as evacuation locations as well.
I can’t keep updating the text due to evacuees here at my home and associated drama. I’m safe — my home area is several thousand feet higher and miles north of this event. The comments have much good info and people keep adding more. NOTE THE DAM ISN’T BREACHED. THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPILLWAY NORTH OF THE DAM. See the link at the end for a previous story that gives details on how this evolved over the past week.
Here is the scene earlier today. The area that is now considered dangerous is the reddish earth portion on the left of the spillway.
I previously reported on the spillway problem and the first-time ever use of the emergency spillway yesterday.