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e e e Preface Floods are one of the most devastating and dangerous disasters to occur in the United States. In an average year, more people will die due to flood emergencies than all other forms of natural disasters combined. Since few people carry flood insur- ance, floods can have devastating econom- ic implications. In an average year, floods costs will exceed $1 billion in emergency response costs, lost productivity, and property losses. This program addresses community planning and response options for riverine flooding. While it does not deal with specialized flooding situations such as alluvial fan floods, coastal floods, flash floods, or floods related to ice jams, the same basic planning and response proce- dures could apply in these unique situa- tions. The target audience for this program includes: emergency preparedness offi- cials, public works and utility employees, local elected officials, floodplain and waterway managers, emergency respond- ers, and others having responsibilities before, during, or after a flood emergency. Anyone with flood responsibilities will benefit from this training. Approximately 20 hours will be required to complete this training program. Several different presentation fonnats may be used including the offering of five four- hour units or presenting the program as a 2.5 day flood workshop. The community should select the presentation format that allows the maximum attendance. This program is intended to be con- ducted before a flood threatens the com- munity. But when facing a flood emergen- cy, certain portions of the course may be conducted as part of an expedient training program. It is important to recognize that flood preparations and plans should be made, evaluated, and exercised well in advance. Effective community planning is critical to successful flood operations. Classroom exercises and activities will let the participant use newly acquired skills and interact with other people in the class. The Instructor will also use the exercises as a student evaluation tooL Participants are encouraged to take notes throughout the program. The stu- dent manual is provided with columns for student notations. A glossary of common terms and abbreviations can be found in the back of the Student ManuaL Appendices provide supplemental information on a variety of topics and serve as reference documents for use during classroom activities. The Table of Contents found on Page i pro- vides a complete listing of reference information in the Student Manual. Comments regarding this manual and training program may be sent to: the Emergency Management Institute, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. iii