Gov. Schwarzenegger Declares State of Emergency for CA Levee System
Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, as well as representatives Doris Matsui, Dan Lungren, and Richard Pombo took a 40-minute aerial tour of the American River, Sacramento River, and the Delta system Wednesday to survey the situation.
On Wednesday this week (Feb 22) our Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and representatives Doris Matsui, Dan Lungren, and Richard Pombo took a 40-minute aerial tour of the American River, Sacramento River, and the Delta system. Surprise they found “conditions of extreme peril,” Therefore, on Friday Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for California’s levee system. It is not really news to those of us who take a drive along the river roads once in awhile and have lived here long enough to realize the dire condition they are in.
I guess that is why many of us have axes in our attics, emergency kits, travel kennels for our pets, evacuation route plans, and a valid sense of high waters in our futures. Built on a flood plain more than 70 miles inland, Sacramento, a maritime port served by two rivers, is considered one of the most flood-prone U.S. cities. Rain and meltwater from nearby mountains could surge down the valley, overtaking dams and levees. Heavy rainfall from a storm in 1986 came 20 minutes short of causing a major flood.Of over 100 erosion sites in the levee system, 24 are critical in a major next flow event.
It is about time someone paid attention. Perhaps, our State Governments sudden awareness is one positive thing to come out of the floods in Gulf. Now they are listening. Let us hope it is not too late.
