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In addition to the forecast flood threat, an evaluation must be made of present conditions. For example, prolonged wet condi- tions can soften levees and make them more susceptible to collapse and damage when exposed to the stress of high water levels. Ice jams can break through flood works and cause localized flooding. Frozen ground may make borrow areas difficult to work. These and other factors must be evaluated in the decision-making process. Notes The first priority must be the protection of human life. This usually requires an evacuation even if flood works are contemplat- . ed. Time will be needed to conduct the evacuation, particularly if large segments of the community are at risk. Special groups and facilities may be difficult to move and require extra time. These special facilities and groups include: hospitals, nursing homes, disabled persons and prison populations. Evacuations usually require a considerable resource expendi- ture both in personnel and equipment. With the limited resources that accompany most flood threats, these critical resources may have to be diverted from other flood fight operations. Consideration must be given for the safety of personnel working on flood lines. There are times that more people are endangered on a flood fight than would have been risked if no response actions had been taken. Flood fights are labor intensive operations and as expedient flood works grow higher, so does the risk of a catastrophic breach releasing a deadly wall of water onto the flood fight teams. . _ __ __ The predicted flood crest may be so high that expedient flood protection isn't a feasible option. Or flood Ight operations may e mounted only to keep bridges and roads open for evacuation traffic and to protect special facilities. These are important elements of the decision-making package. The planning document should list priorities for protection based on the policy decisions of the community leadership. This creates an orderly process to protect the community at risk. After the protection of human life, the next priority is likely to be to protect essential facilities. The next priority level may be to protect the economic and industrial base of the community. Residential protection may be third priority and so on down the list. Priorities will vary from community to community and may change with the community leadership. There are no universal sets of priorities to follow in a flood emergency other than the protection of human life. Page 5 - 4