State of Emergency to Help Response to Situation at Oroville Dam

As a result of three atmospheric river storm systems that struck California during January and February 2017, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., declared a State of Emergency on February 12, 2017, for the situation at Oroville Dam. Due to rainfall that has inundated lakes, rivers, and streams throughout the state, these lakes, rivers, and streams have reached capacity resulting in widespread flooding. Lake Oroville in Butte County has reached capacity, causing officials to utilize the spillway to reduce the lake’s water levels. On February 7, 2017, the spillway at Lake Oroville Dam began to erode, causing officials to begin utilizing the auxiliary emergency spillway at Lake Oroville Dam on February 11, 2017. Officials have determined that the auxiliary emergency spillway is in danger of failing which would result in widespread and severe flooding. Due to extreme potential for flooding, evacuation of tens of thousands of residents has been ordered. The circumstances of this potential flooding by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of mutual aid region or regions to combat. Since there is a declared State of Emergency, the Department of Developmental Services (Department) is authorizing, pursuant to Title 17, California Code of Regulations section 54326 (a) (11), regional centers to pay vendors for absences that are the direct result of the situation at Oroville Dam. The applicable regulation section reads as follows: [All vendors shall…] Not bill for consumer absences for nonresidential services. The Department shall authorize payment for absences which are the direct result of situations and/or occurrences for which a State of Emergency has been declared by the Governor. If payment for absences due to a State of Emergency is authorized by the Department, the vendor shall bill only for absences in excess of the average number of absences experienced by the vendor during the 12-month period prior to the month in which the disaster occurred. This letter was sent by Rapone Anderson, Regional Center Branch Manager, Community Services Division Full copy of Letter: All RC State of Emergency for Oroville Dam FINAL Signed