FRESNO, Calif. (Diya TV) — More than 180,000 Northern California residents were ordered to evacuate from their homes late Sunday due to erosion of the emergency spillway in the nation’s tallest dam. Several Sikh temples in the area opened their doors to people in need of places to spend the night.
Earlier Sunday evening, California’s Department of Water Resources said the Oroville Dam’s emergency spillway, which prevents water from rushing over the top of the dam when levels are high, was in danger of failing and sending an “uncontrolled release of flood waters from Lake Oroville.”
Thousands of residents from Yuba, Butte and Sutter Counties were told to leave their homes immediately. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg took to social media to tell individuals evacuating the Yuba County area that they could seek shelter in at least seven local Sikh houses of worship. Sacramento is about an hour and a half south of Oroville Dam.
Sikh Temples in Sacramento region are open for people evacuated around #OrovilleDam. Am told they have food ready & all in need are welcome. pic.twitter.com/Vz2jYEte2w
— @mayor_Steinberg (@Mayor_Steinberg) February 13, 2017
“We’re well prepared,” Dr. Gurtej S. Cheema of Sacramento’s Capital Sikh Center told the Huffington Post. 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 members 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 arrive. “We have three families over here right now, and we’re expecting at least 10 more [to spend the night],” he said.
Roseville Police Chief Hahn stopped by and tweeted this photo:
Our own Lt Screeton stopped by r local Sikh Temple 2 help serve recent evacuees frm Oroville. The Temple has stepped up 2serve those in need pic.twitter.com/J5mnlpR66i
— Daniel Hahn (@Chief_Hahn) February 13, 2017
Yuba City’s first Sikh temple was built in 1969. In November, Yuba City was home to the largest Sikh event outside India.Tens of thousands of individuals gathered at the 37th annual Sikh Parade Festival to honor the teachings of Sikhism’s founder and celebrate the Sikh pioneers who came to Yuba City 110 years ago from Punjab, India.
Information from the Huffington Post contributed to this report.