FLOOD02417

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Guidelines on Community Local Flood Warning and Response Systems
• Date: 8/1/1985
• Prepared For: US
• Prepared By: Hydrology Subcommittee
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

Chapter I - Introduction

Throughout history, people have settled near rivers, lakes, bays and oceans

because of the many economic advantages of living in such areas. Fertile

flood plains, developed through erosion and sedimentation, have been used

extensively by man for growing food both for himself and his livestock. With

the intensification of agriculture, nearby water sources were available for

irrigation. As economic activity diversified, water sources became useful for

processing raw materials into other products; transporting raw materials,

crops and manufactured goods; and the development of water supply and waste

disposal projects for growing communities. In more recent times, recreational

interests have lead to intense land development along the shorelines of rivers

and lakes and in the ocean front and bay front areas of coastal zones.

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A price was to be paid for the economic and recreational benefits of occupying

land adjacent to water sources. Heavy losses of both property and life have

resulted from the recurrent flooding of occupied flood-prone areas. Loss of

life due to floods varies greatly from year to year (as shown on Figure 1).

The annual average was 102 fatalities in the period 1940-1982; since 1970, the

average has increased to 200. The average annual property damage in 1940-1982

was $1.5 billion.

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In 1983, there were more than 200 flood-related deaths, primarily from flash

floods. Flood damages (in 1983 dollars), as shown on Figure 2, continue an

upward trend; in 1983 they were almost $5 billion. Floods are the number one

natural disaster in the United States in terms of loss of life and property.

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