WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump is keeping a close eye on the Oroville Dam situation in California.
He called it a “textbook example” of the consequences of the nation’s crumbling infrastructure ,and notied the need for Congress to “pursue a major infrastructure package”:
The President has been keeping a close eye on the Oroville Dam situation in California. We’ve worked closely with Doug LaMalfa who represents California’s 1st [congressional] district, where the dam is located, and other state officials to help people who have been impacted.
The situation is a textbook example of why we need to pursue a major infrastructure package in Congress. Dams, bridges, roads, and all ports around the country have fallen into disrepair. In order to prevent the next disaster, we will pursue the President’s vision for an overhaul of our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
We hope everyone remains safe if the evacuations continue, and we will be working alongside FEMA and appropriate government entities to make sure that we are doing everything we can to attend to this matter.
Congressman LaMalfa (R-CA) told Breitbart News Sunday that authorities suggested the structural integrity of the Oroville Dam’s spillway was not sound and that its potential failure could be the result of a collapse at its center.
The Northern California region affected by the spillway’s failure has approximately 200,000 residents.
On Monday night, Gov. Jerry Brown sent a letter to President Trump, requesting direct assistance for evacuees from Butte, Sutter, and Yuba counties.
“I have determined this incident is of such severity and magnitude,” Brown’s letter reportedly stated. It continued, “federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety.”
On Sunday evening, Gov. Brown issued an emergency order to strengthen California’s response to the crisis, and to garner increased support from law enforcement to help with local evacuations. Among other agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been deployed to help set shelters up for those forced from their homes due to safety concerns.
Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter and Periscope @AdelleNaz
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