flooding News

Experts Warn of ‘Significant Risk’ from California Dam

California is not just fighting nature as it attempts to repair the nation’s tallest dam, badly damaged last month by surging storm waters. It’s also racing the clock. Safety experts say there is no time for delay in a state …

California May Exit Federal Flood Program, According to Reports

After learning a lesson from what could have been the largest dam disaster U.S. history, California officials are reported to be considering withdrawing from the National Flood Insurance Program. Capital Public Radio is reporting that a proposal to exit the …

Dam at Oregon Lake Being Retrofitted to Withstand Earthquake

The leaky dam at Hyatt Lake in Oregon is being shored up this summer as part of a $3.7 million seismic retrofit. The Mail Tribune reported the project will bring the dam east of Ashland into safety compliance after a …

Big Snow Could Mean Big Flooding along Major Wyoming Rivers

The heavy snowfall so far this winter in parts of central and western Wyoming has forecasters looking at potential spring flooding in some major watersheds that haven’t seen it in decades. National Weather Service hydrologist Jim Fahey in Riverton says …

Weather Events in U.S., Australia Cost Insurers $1B+ in February: Aon

Insurers face claims of more than US$1.0 billion as a result of severe weather events in the U.S. and Australia during February, according to a report published by Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team. The report discussed the …

San Jose Floods Force Out Vietnamese Families

When the floodwaters rushed in last month in San Jose, a firefighter hauled Hien Nguyen to safety. She left behind the two-bedroom apartment she shared with a roommate for $1,000 a month, managing only to take her identification and her …

California’s Troubled Oroville Dam Gets Power Plant Restart

Crews began restarting a power plant at the base of Oroville Dam, allowing them to release water from the Northern California lake without having to send it over a badly damaged spillway, officials said. The move is a major milestone …

Billionaire from California Donates $5M to Help San Jose Flood Relief Efforts

A California billionaire has donated $5 million for flood relief efforts in San Jose. Kieu Hoang is a one-time refugee from Vietnam who built a fortune in medical products. He presented a check to city officials this week. The money …

Debris Pile Emerges from Water Near Troubled California Dam

Crews worked this week to clean up dirt and debris from the base of Oroville Dam and biologists rush to save stranded fish after state officials shut off the flow of water from a damaged spillway at the Northern California …

San Jose Flooding Resulted in $73M in Damages, City Official Says

A San Jose, Calif. official says an initial estimate puts damage costs from last week’s flooding of several residential neighborhoods at $73 million. Assistant City Manager David Sykes said flood damage to private property is estimated at $50 million. He …