More than 200,000 people were evacuated on Sunday, after a massive flood almost inundated Oroville Dam in North California. Authorities were forced to open the dam’s emergency spillway for the first time in 50 years. However, the said spillway already deteriorated due to erosion caused by heavy rains, creating a 30-foot-deep hole in its premises.
In documenting the vast damage that the flooding has caused, drones and helicopter footages have been tapped by authorities. These devices were able to record the harrowing aftermath of the calamity, which forced hundreds of thousands of resident to flee to safer grounds.
Inwards the aerial footage, raging waters can be seen trickling down violently into the dam’s damaged spillway. The emergency spillway seemed to have become a muddy mess of smaller creeks flowing from its basin. Experts report that the calamity that struck Oroville Dam is a clear indication that the state of California is suffering from climate whiplash.
Yahoo News has reported that California has just recovered from a six-year drought, which is one of the longest in their history. Today, the Golden State predicts a near-record level of rain and snowfall caused by atmospheric “rivers” dump precipitation within the area. With more rains expected in the coming weeks, California authorities are working round-the-clock to ensure that the dam will be repaired to avoid further damage to the environment, and even cause death.
According to Hanson Bridgett, new drone laws in California help promote the proper and appropriate use of the said equipment. Furthermore, it also states that the market for commercial drone insurance has become more accessible to local consumers. Last year, the California legislature sent six bills to their governor. Two of these bills were signed two, while four were vetoed.
The first bill, AB1680, states that it is a misdemeanor to interfere with first responders or emergency personnel at the scene of an emergency. The second bill, SB807, states that emergency first responders must be protected from liability for damage to a drone that is interfering with the responder’s ability to provide emergency service. In the recent Superbowl 51 Halftime Show, Lady Gaga used 300 drones powered by Intel for the opening of her performance. It has been reported that the singer needed to get a special permit from Texas authorities because it is illegal to fly drones inside or within the NFL stadium.
