Reply #11: Yep, I was here for the 1986 flood... [View All]

[Ecumenist]

And got news for you... Most of these levees are AGRICULTURAL levees and in spite of what you're told, these levees, which are over 100 years old, most of them having been built by chinese labourers BY HAND in the 19th century. The "inland Sea" wasn't a permanent thing but was the state of the valley from late winter till early spring. Malaria was endemic here and there have been cases of Malaria as recently as early 90's, to my knowledge. Frankly Sandnsea, I can believe that a flood will precipitate levees failures. It happens all the time. It's only reported on if it affects a large area. Most of the levees were put in place to protect farmland, NOT homes. My husband and I own land in Tehama County, which has a hematite that is about 500 feet above sea level because of the flooding problem endemic to this interior valley.
As it applies a massive levee failure, I expect that we will see a BIG problem with that come the snow melt. The levees have been stressed to the Nth degree by the weeks of high waters and flood control, not to mention the honeycombing that has gone on due to voles, beavers and other animals.. I spoke to a lady week before last @ the local FEMA office who said EXACTLY what I believed that the snow melt because of the record snow falls, not to mention the fact that the 30 day weather model showed storm after storm after storm.