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<br />2.4 Flood Protection Measures <br /> <br />NO flood-control structures exist on the streams that affect flood- <br />ing in La Veta and vicinity. <br /> <br />While La Veta has not adopted any regulatory controls for flood <br />hazard areas, Huerfano County has adopted "Regulations for Areas <br />and Activities of State Interest" that will control development in <br />the lOO-year flood plain. <br /> <br />The National Weather Service (NWS) does not provide specific flood <br />forecasts for La Veta. The technology of accurate river and flood <br />forecasting is dependent on adequate and timely rainfall and river- <br />stage data. It is even more essential that such basic data be <br />available, particularly rainfall reports for areas subject to flash <br />flooding. Funding restraints have prevented the NWS operation of <br />the tentatively dense networks required for specific stage forecasts <br />for the multitude of small streams. However, this problem has <br />been resolved as follows. <br /> <br />The NWS Forecast Office locdted in Denver, Colorado, supplies weather <br />forecasts four times daily for the area. In addition to the routine <br />forecasts and special forecasts of severe storms, general flash- <br />flood warnings are issued, as required, on a countywide basis to <br />Walsenburg, which lies within Huerfano County. The county is with- <br />in the range of the NWS WSR-57 radar at Limon, COlorado, which is <br />capable of detecting areas of intense precipitation and their move- <br />ment. Radar observation of intense precipitation and projection <br />of storm movement gives some lead time for flash-flood warnings, <br />which are promptly disseminated to all news media and local offi- <br />cials by the best communications available, including telephone <br />and teletype. <br /> <br />A community flash-flood reporting network of river and rainfall <br />stations and a flood-warning program developed and operated in <br />connection with the 24-hour weather service radar facility could <br />minimize loss of life and movable property in the event of a major <br />flood. Such an arrangement would require that local river and <br />rainfall reports be communicated promptly to responsible local <br />officials and to the NWS office for evaluation and analysis. These <br />data and the analysis could be used to more accurately forewarn <br />community representatives of potential storm and flood conditions. <br /> <br />There are no formal plans for flood fighting and emergency evacua- <br />tion in La Veta. However, alerting area residents and coordinating <br />rescue operations are accomplished through the local police and <br />fire departments. <br /> <br />6 <br />