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<br />To maximize benefits from a local flood warning system, warnings must be given <br /> <br />as far in advance of actual flooding as possible. This inevitably leads to <br /> <br />some percentage of false warnings, a percentage that will increase as an <br /> <br />individual property's frequency of exposure to flooding increases. Since <br /> <br />false warnings are inevitable, the costs they will generate should be <br /> <br />considered as a warning system cost when evaluating benefits and 'costs. <br /> <br />D. Need for a Response System <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A flood warning system by itself is uaeless. If it is to be effective, the <br /> <br />community must have procedures to ensure that people leave the flooding areas <br /> <br /> <br />and that actions are taken to reduce property damages. These procedures, <br /> <br /> <br />which consist of a planned set of responses to the threat, are known as a <br /> <br /> <br />community response system. This system is the mechanism community emergency <br /> <br />response officials can use to respond to any type of warning, whether <br /> <br />generated from a local warning system or another source. <br /> <br />. I <br /> <br />A community response system consists of: (1) an emergency action plan (EAP); <br />(2) trained individuals to carry out the planned actions; (3) maintenance of <br />the system; and (4) means'to foster community interest and awareness. The <br /> <br />roles of the varioua community infrastructure services must be clearly <br /> <br />defined, and key personnel such as the police chief, fire chief, the director <br /> <br />of emergency services, and staff must be trained and knowledgeable about how <br /> <br />to react to various flood events. The following questions must be answered: <br /> <br />Who will monitor flood events? Who will make decisions on the flood-fighting <br />actions to be taken? What support resources are available? Who will <br /> <br />21 <br />