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<br />CHAPrER III - FLOOD DAMAGE
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<br />10. General. - During the September 1970 floods floodwaters ranged
<br />up to 10 feet deep in some areas; however, floodwaters remained on
<br />the land for a very short time beyond the storm period. The
<br />counties of Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Montezuma,
<br />Montrose, Olray, San Juan and San Mlguel in Colorado; Apache in
<br />Arizona, San Juan in New Mexico and San Juan in Utah were hardest hit
<br />by the floods; however, only the counties located in Colorado were
<br />declared disaster areas.
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<br />ll. Loss of Life. - A scottsdale Arizona couple drowned in ~lcElmo
<br />Creek, a tributary to the San Juan River near Aneth; Utah, when
<br />their caroper-truck was swept away by floodwaters. Ot.her lives were
<br />lost and bodily injuries resulted from automobile accidents that
<br />occurred during the flood-producing stOI'lllS.
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<br />12. Flood damaf:e survey. - Following the recession of floodwaters,
<br />Sacramento District personnel performed a reconnaissance-type
<br />field survey of flooded areas to determine the extent of flooding
<br />and inventory flood damages during the m:mth of October. The
<br />field survey involved interviews 1Iith a representative sarople of
<br />property owners and others who could furnish information on agricul-
<br />tural, residential, cODll1lElrcial, and industrial flood losses.
<br />Practically all types of damage were inspected in the field and,
<br />in most cases, damages were estimated by statistical methods based
<br />on interview data. U. S. Soil Conservation Service personnel, in
<br />Work Unit level offices, were especially helpful in identifying
<br />damaged areas and providing assistance in evaluating damages and
<br />their impact on the local econOJny. No damage sun-ey was conducted
<br />on Indian Reservation lands, as roads and trails were still impas-
<br />sable at the time of survey. Data on damage to public facilities
<br />were gathered through contacts 1Iith representatives ot the U. S.
<br />Forest Senice, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management,
<br />Bureau of Indian Affairs, other Federal agencies, state, county,
<br />and city agencies and various public utility companies.
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<br />13. Flood damage classification. - For purpose of this report,
<br />nood damages were clasl!ified according to agricultural, residential,
<br />commercial, industrial and utility, and public facility losses.
<br />In general, agricultural losses include damage to crops, farm
<br />improvements, and stored supplies; destruction of livestock;
<br />erosion of land; and deposition of sand, silt and debris. Resi-
<br />dentiallosses include damage to foundations, tl&ors, furnishings,
<br />lawns, gardene, and other improvements. COllllllercial losees include
<br />dallage to store buildines and inventories, to service establishments,
<br />and to other commercial etructures. Indllstrial and utility losses
<br />include damage to power, telephone, gas, water and railroad facil-
<br />i ties; oil and. gas transportation linee; manufacturing plants; and
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