WASHINGTON — The California National Guard had about 1,880 Soldiers and Airmen on duty Tuesday to assist in operations surrounding the failing Oroville dam in the northern part of the state, according to the National Guard Bureau.
"The dam is failing, and evacuation orders have been given to close to 200,000 people in the area," a Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, said Monday. "While the [water] depths are reported to be decreasing, we do note that rain is expected later this week."
All 23,000 members of the California National Guard remain on alert status, Davis said at a Pentagon briefing.
In touch with FEMA
The Defense Department is in touch with the California National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the commander of U.S. Northern Command, Davis said.
Northcom provides command and control of Defense Department homeland protection efforts and coordinates defense support of civil authorities.
"We've dispatched liaison officers to the state emergency operations center, and are prepared to deploy any Title 10 capabilities – federal military – quickly if requested," Davis said.
FEMA and DoD coordinating officials stand by to put state and federal asset requests into action as they arise, he said.
'Leaning forward, ready to assist'
"If the dam should break, there are FEMA, California National Guard and DoD personnel who will all be prepared to respond," the Pentagon spokesman told reporters. "We are leaning forward and are ready to assist if needed." Types of help DoD is prepared to provide include aviation, airborne imagery and water rescue - both swift water and still water - as well as mass care and shelter assistance, he added.
DoD officials are trying to anticipate such requests before they come, Davis said, and is keeping a dialogue open to quickly get its forces ready should they be needed.
"We recognize that one of our most solemn duties is to assist the American people in their greatest time of need," the captain said. "While the state, first and foremost, has the responsibility for doing that, there's a federal element, should they need it, which is ready to respond quickly."