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<br />The curve represents a hypothetical suburban community with an active <br /> <br />emergency flood response system; it is presented here to illustrate the <br /> <br />potential benefits of an improved warning system. The hypothetical analysis <br /> <br />shows that even a few hours lead time can result in some reduction in flood <br /> <br />losses. In order to compute the economic benefits of implementing a local <br /> <br />. I <br /> <br />flood warning system, a unique curve must be derived for each community. (In <br /> <br />many cases, data may not be available to conduct such an analysis.) To use <br /> <br />the curve, the present lead time must be computed. If the present lead time <br /> <br />is four hours and the installation of an automated flood warning system would <br /> <br />increase the lead time to 14 hours, the percent reduction in flood damages <br />", <br /> <br />would increase from 11 percent to 23 percent. The net reduction in flood <br /> <br />damages would be 12 percent by increasing lead time by 10 hours. <br /> <br />This reduction in annual flood damages can he significant to the economic <br /> <br />health of a community. In Ventura County, California, for example, flood <br /> <br />control district officials and Fillmore City officials credit an automated <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />flood warning system and response system purchased for 50,000 with preventing <br /> <br />$5 million in flood damages from the February 1980 flood (Bartfield & Taylor, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1982). <br /> <br />B.S. Expansion of Hydrologic Capabilities <br /> <br />Some communities use automated local flood warning systems for other purposes, <br /> <br />such as managing reservoirs and allocating water for municipal and irrigation <br /> <br />use. In the future, these systems may be capable of providing information for <br /> <br />agriculture and forecasts for water management and water quality. <br /> <br />19 <br />