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<br />Automated local flood warning systems consist of the following components: <br /> <br />(1) automated precipitation and river gages; (2) a communications system; (3) <br />automated data collection and processing equipment; (4) data collection and <br /> <br />system forecasting software; and (5) a warning distribution system. <br /> <br />Automated stream forecasting has developed in the past decade as a result of <br /> <br />rapid growth in the application of hydrologic models to computer technology, <br /> <br />coupled with decreases in the cost of computers. The evolutionary development <br /> <br />of automated systems continues to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and <br /> <br />reliability of flood warning capability. Automated flood warning systems are <br />gaining in popularity around the nation; about 150 communities in 20 states <br /> <br />are now operating or planning to install automated systems. <br /> <br />Automated local flood warning systems vary in design, capability, and <br /> <br />operation. An assessment of needs must be conducted by the community to <br /> <br />determine the level of sophistication required. System operation may vary <br /> <br />from a simple flash flood alarm that audibly announces imminent flooding, to <br /> <br />the continuous computerized analysis of precipitation and streamflow and a <br /> <br />hydrologic model to forecast flood levels. Since community needs and <br /> <br />resources vary greatly, the factors discussed in Chapter 2 must be fully <br /> <br />evaluated before the type of automated system required can be determined. <br /> <br />c. Step 1 - Collect Data <br /> <br />For most local flood warning systems, hydrologic data consists of river and <br /> <br />rainfall data collected at manual or automated gages. Rainfall or <br /> <br />precipitation gages measure the amount and rate of precipitation falling at a <br /> <br />28 <br />