Oakland,CA…The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Oakland, Calif. and its National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in Washington, D.C., are monitoring impacts of the severe weather in California and the erosion to the Oroville Dam Spillway and remains in close coordination with state and tribal officials in affected areas.

FEMA is coordinating support for the State of California in its preparation and response to the potential Auxiliary Spillway failure near Oroville in Butte County. The FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center located in Oakland has activated in response to the emergency with a 24-hour operational tempo.

“We activated to ensure we’re postured to rapidly respond to any needs that California may have to protect life and property,” said Acting FEMA Administrator Dr. Ahsha Tribble. “We encourage residents in the affected to area to follow the direction of local authorities, and if told to stay out of evacuated areas, please do so.”

A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) is onsite at the California State Operations Center in Sacramento, Calif. The IMAT is an emergency response strike team comprised of specialists in the fields of operations, logistics, external affairs, finance and administration, and other key management positions.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an active weather pattern will return to northern and central Calif. for the middle to latter portion of the week as a series of storm systems track across the region. The NWS forecasts the heaviest precipitation is expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning and again Friday into Friday night. Additional rainfall may cause excessive runoff within the river basins and may pose additional stress on the Oroville Dam Spillway situation.

The state requested and FEMA logistics will supply 150,000 one-litre bottles of water; 20,000 blankets; and 10,000 cots to the state today.

FEMA’s Liaison Officers continue to work with the California Office of Emergency Services Operations Center and the California Department of Water Resources State-Federal Flood Operations Center.

FEMA encourages those in the areas affected, or potentially affected by the severe weather to monitor local radio, TV stations or official social media accounts for updated emergency information, and to follow the instructions of state, tribal and local officials.

When natural disasters such as severe weather and flooding strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations and numerous private interest groups. They provide emergency assistance required to protect the public’s health and safety and to meet immediate human need. For tips and resources to prepare before, during and after a flood visit www.ready.gov.