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<br />Il~&;i;~ioneerS'approacli
<br />'1:' ! ~,.to flood.,damage' ~ontrol. .....
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<br />;' i i :"~~ Pal M~Gra~~.~t .', . Structure.o~iented flO;d zoning
<br />., , .,.oonvor Post Stoff W~itor".. " . does not account for such human
<br />f ' '" BOULDER..... A ploneenng ap-' .
<br />,<\. '!: proach to.fiood damage control- conduct. But Boulder officials' new
<br />,; I ' , a view that'considers the lethal po- approach, would, assuming that
<br />. 'tentlal of high" water as well as many people would try, to travel
<br />.;threats to, property - is in the during a flood, Their concern is to
<br />, ::"works in Boulder and could be on establish not only how high water
<br />t 'the ,books within. months, could rise but also how much dan,
<br />li'1i!;Experts call the approach "the ger It poses to humans, The speed
<br />, ~'true hazard area concept." It ac. ,of tlIe flowing water is part of the
<br />( 'counts for situations "when escape ,:"",equatlon, too, ,.', '
<br />t, :(from buildings) would be difficult ' ...
<br />~ and life would be threatened," the , Using Colorado State University
<br />:{notion ,being to expand planning SImulatIOns, researchers have
<br />tand public policy concerns to in. tned to Identify a formul~ to deter-
<br />';:clude threats to life as well ,as'. mme clrcumstancesm which
<br />! lio'damage'to structures, ' ' ')i,:"most individuals cannot move to
<br />:' ~'ii'Alan Taylor,a Boulder .Flood ~~pomt of safety."
<br />, 'i',~ater and Management Utility en.,":'~" So far, tlIe best approach seems
<br />,," [. eer, s81d tlIe 'proposed ap~oach< to be adding 'tlIe speed of flooding
<br />',' f", ay be unique ~.tl1e country, Clt'''':water and its deptll, The sum isa,
<br />\ 1 ;j lell where flooding IS a threat USU-"i number applied to various flood sit-
<br />L'I :~~tack1e tlIe 'proble,? by restrict,,; uations, with a rating of "4" being
<br />':~g or 'pr~?lblting, gro~h In" considered a still reasonable state, "
<br />" ':,Jloodplains, areas most likely to, Research appears to show that wa' , '
<br />,', beinunda~ed by high water: Ban-, ter2 feet deep and flowing at 2 feet
<br />ning or limltmg constructIOn of per second can be negotiated safe-
<br />,homes or busmesses m such areas Iy negotiated;';:" '
<br />,can help ,prevent damage to tlIe, ,: ";,[\.,,
<br />, "" ,Structlll"es. '..' f'''',' But among this formula's flaws
<br />, l'ltBut the approach, often ignores is its inability to account for the re-
<br />i ' .how people behave in floods, Most ality that flood waters often carry
<br />, lifatallties:nl Colorado and Wyoming otller objects in them;2.foot deep .
<br />~ ;:'l!OolISinrecent years,Jor exam, waters, flowing at 2 feet per sec;",'
<br />, ;. !pIe, resulted from individuals tak- ond may be navigable unless'tlIey
<br />iF :ing rtsksto get from one place to also are filled witll trees or cars,,:
<br />"it: lanother,Taylor and fellow engi- The formula also faces historiClu
<br />:,I:',ineerDan Birch noted. , , and political hurdles, including
<br />':( [4 For example, the building next years of building along the 28 miles
<br />.11:10 Bo~der Creek, where the engt. ,of water channels in the Boulder
<br />, ; , 4, ':neers offices are located, would be limits, That construction cannot ,
<br />, ':,' ,:elatively safe in a flood because It simply be undone,
<br />;1.:'[1s built on stilts; tlIe only damage . . ,
<br />!k ,high' water woulWCaitse probably is But experts hope to discuss tlIeir
<br />J,::to ,the stairw.ell,l,eading to the, n~w .flOOd damage appr~ach, if
<br />.w: ground, --C,,: ,"'; Simply to make the public more
<br />:11: ' But that does not mean tlIe pea- aware that flooding in some areas .
<br />r~ ; pie inside would be safe, because' could cause deaths, not jus! prop-
<br />,~~imost would try to get home tofam., erty damage, Tbe experts hope tlIe
<br />'*;;:illes during a flood; many would, increased awareness will.help to .
<br />'fl.. '}};;t,ee.lcom, pen,t;... t~ 'leav, e tlI.. e .b. uil,.' d. -.',', pe, r, s,u!lqe. v...ot.ersof tlIe.ne....ed.. .f",or.... .
<br />",ing'S safety. . ve valued'proper:;::-strictifesmctlonS'01CneY(biilldin,g-
<br />_, ty,suchasaUf ob!lei;,,/,'i ,> oradtl'!fionsintlleflOod~~?~~(L
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