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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I effective spotter networks of dedicated individuals have provided va[uable flood information to assist in the decision-making process. Lesson learned: Flood detection networks provide Invaluable quantitative information on rainfall and stream flow to assist In decision-making but a re expensive to implement and maintain. Additionally they may not provide adequate warning in urban and fast-response basins. Communications Severe thunderstorms and flash f1ood[ng severely limit and overburden even the best designed communication systems. During the Big Thompson flash flood telephone service was quickly cut, radio stations in Estes Park went off the air and static distorted ham and emergency radio broadcasts. No one knew what was going on, Commercial radio and television statioos struggled to get confirmation that a problem existed, Interest in a local pre-season NFL football game provided distractions, In large metro areas the approach of severe weather systems, such as the July 11, 1990 $600 Million Dollar Denver hail storm, can clog local telephone, cellular phone and radio communications. Communications "black holes" can quickly develop, Lesson learned: develop a redundant communications systems using telephone, cellular phone, radio, fax, cable and local television components. But plan on Murphy being there. Response. An invaluab[e aid in responding to a flash flooding event is a planned course of action involving the emergency response agencies. The development of organized flood warning plans by basin provide a framework for Individuals to creatively adapt response to most situations, On the night of the Big Thompson no warning pian existed and agency chaos ruled, Evacuation plans did not exist. Heroic efforts by individuais, some of whom lost their lives, filled the gaps but were inadequate to significantly reduce the loss of life, Experience has shown that even well- exercised plans can fail to be executed correctly but still provide an effective decision framework. Lesson learned: Planned response to flash floods can save lives. Basin-specific warning plans can be most effective but need to be exercised annually. Even the poor execution of a warning plan is more effective than the paralyzing chaos of no plan. SO WHAT IF THE BIG THOMPSON FLASH FLOOD OCCURRED AGAIN OR STRUCK ANOTHER POPULAR RECREATION AREA IN THE STATE? Lessons Lost or Solutions Gained? r Evidence, concrete, subjective and otherwise, continues to mount that current flash flood warning systems are either failing or haven't been fully implemented to the level needed to provide protection, New technology, while seeming to provide a detection panacea, has created a flash flood of information for a dwindling number of operational meteorologists assigned to flash flood prediction to ponder. The burden of decision-making Is still focused on individuals. Flood plain management continues to get bogged down in the reality of politics, people and money leaving a significant population at risk to flash floods. Flash flood detection systems and warning plans, however good, are not fool-proof. Communications and decision-making preceding and during flash flooding events are highly dependent for success on the right people and situations being present. Is there a solution? 4