Oroville Dam evacuation order lifted as crews work to stay ahead of rain
Efforts to stabilize erosion authorities feared could lead to a failure of America’s tallest dam reached a point where they were no longer requiring evacuation of the Oroville, California, area, an order that affected almost 200,000 people. Still, work to lower the level of the reservoir above continued with urgency as a series of rainstorms approached.
- The Oroville Dam spillway overflows with runoff in Oroville, California on Feb. 14, 2017. A sheriff lifted a mandatory evacuation order in northern California, which had impacted nearly 200,000 people in an area under threat of catastrophic failure at the tallest dam in the United States. (MONICA DAVEY/AFP/Getty Images)
- Jack and Sheila Frazier of Oroville sit in a van with their dogs and their belongings in the parking lot of Collins and Denny Market on Feb. 14, 2017 in Oroville, California. “If they tell us to leave again we’ll leave,” Jack said. “[But] it’s where we live.” (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- The Feather River flows with force through Oroville, Calif., downstream from a damaged dam Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
- Oroville Dam Boulevard is seen Feb. 13, 2017, with no traffic in sight after an evacuation order under threat from spillage from the dam in Oroville, Calif. Helicopters dropped giant rock-filled sandbags into place Monday to shore up the California reservoir that had threatened to breach its banks and unleash a 30-foot wall of water. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
- Volunteers fold clothes at an emergency shelter on February 14, 2017 in Chico, California. More than 188,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a hole in the emergency spillway in the Oroville Dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- Tanisha Mosqueda packs her belongings in an emergency shelter after a mandatory evacuation order in place since Sunday was downgraded to an advisory on Feb. 14, 2017 in Chico, California. More than 188,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a hole in the emergency spillway in the Oroville Dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- A helicopter picks up a bag of rocks at a staging area near the Oroville Dam on Feb. 14, 2017, in Oroville, California. More than 188,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a hole in the emergency spillway in the Oroville Dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- Young Oroville residents hold up signs for the workers who have been busy repairing the Oroville Dam in Oroville, California, on Feb. 14, 2017. A sheriff lifted a mandatory evacuation order in northern California, which had impacted nearly 200,000 people in an area under threat of catastrophic failure at the tallest dam in the United States. (MONICA DAVEY/AFP/Getty Images)
- Gabriella Watson, 14, plays basketball with Zack Wyman, 16, outside Wyman’s home on Feb.14, 2017 in Oroville, California. “When you grow up somewhere, even when you know something bad might happen, it’s hard to leave it all behind,” said Watson. More than 188,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a hole in the emergency spillway in the Oroville Dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- People wait outside Collins and Denny Market as owner Mazen Hanoun opens the door on Feb. 14, 2017, in Oroville, California. People had converged on the parking lot after word spread on social media that the store might be opening. “When people are here and refuse to leave I need to support those people,” said Hanoun. Milk, food, diapers. My life is not better than them. They stay, I stay.” (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- A rainbow is made by spray from water coming down the damaged main spillway of the Oroville Dam on Feb. 14, 2017, in Oroville, California. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
- Helicopters carrying bags of rocks are seen above the damaged main spillway of the Oroville Dam on Feb. 14, 2017 in Oroville, California. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)