Evacuation Centers Pull Together On Short Notice For Oroville Emergency

UPDATE 4:12 p.m.: The National Weather Service in Sacramento has downgraded the flash flood warning to a flash flood watch for the Auxiliary Spillway of Oroville Dam in Butte County.

The watch will remain in place until the situation changes.

ORIGINAL: Evacuation notices for around 188,000 people near the Oroville Dam are still in effect while experts assess the damage and create a response plan.

Gary Cantwell with the Red Cross says the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds is offering cots, blankets, water, meals and other supplies like diapers. He says there has been an outstanding response from the Butte County and Chico communities.

"We are having businesses coming in and saying: 'what do you want, what do you need, we'll give it,'" Cantwell says.

Of course, evacuating still comes with hardships. "We have people here that would love to be back home," Cantwell says. "We've got people with medical needs in our "Medical Assist" area. And you know, it's not that comfortable sleeping on cots, and being away from home."

Oroville resident Roy Bowling came to the fairgrounds Sunday night. He says he was on his way to the store when a police officer told him he had to leave immediately.

He's now one of a thousand evacuees staying at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico.

"I had to go over here to the Chico VA this morning because I'm a disabled veteran," Bowling says. "I had to go get my medication that I couldn't go back and get."

Bowling appreciates the shelter workers pulling together on short notice. "This was fly-by-night, right now, get it done," he says. "So, they're doing good, I think."

Silver Dollar Fairgrounds stopped taking new evacuees Sunday night, but has since opened another building and added more cots.

Evacuation Centers:

Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico at 2357 Fair St. 

Neighborhood Church of Chico, 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. (no animals inside)

St. Johns Episcopal Church, 2341 Floral Ave., Chico (small animals accepted if leashed and crated)

Paradise Alliance Church (CMA), 6491 Clark Road (small animals accepted, RVs allowed in Parking Lot) - FULL

Elks Lodge (Paradise) 1100 Elks Lane, Paradise - (no small animals accepted, RVs allowed in Parking Lot)

Glenn County Fairgrounds, 221 E. Yolo St. Orland, CA (accepting livestock, no small animals, 40 RV sites) - FULL

Colusa County Fairgrounds in Colusa at 1303 10th St. 

Neighborhood Church in Chico at 2801 Notre Dame Blvd.

Grace Community Church in Chico at  2346 Floral Ave.

Alcouffe Community Center on Marysville Road, Oregon House

Glenn County Fairgrounds in Orland at 221 E. Yolo St.

Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley at 11228 McCourtney Road - FULL

First Baptist Church in Grass Valley at 1866 Ridge Road - FULL