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<br />2. Flagging High Water levels <br /> <br />Data are screened in an automated fashion by the system's central com- <br />puter to flag high water levels. The central computer automatically contacts <br />the NWS-CFO by phone giving a voice-synthesized message that relays pertinent <br />information. The transmission is not completed until the message is received <br />and verified. A file is generated in the computer that lists all stations <br />reporting high water levels during the last hour. <br /> <br />3. Hydrologic Conditions Assessment <br /> <br />The NWS-CFO OFFICIAL-IN-CHARGE (OIC) immediately accesses by computer <br />terminal the satell ite monitori ng system data base to further evaluate overall <br />upstream and downstream flow conditions for the effected watershed. Sophis- <br />ticated software including color graphics capability allows the user to effec- <br />tively evaluate the data. The OIC follows up by consulting with the NWS <br />regional offices of Pueblo, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and Alamosa. <br />Radar coverage is utilized to identify and determine the intensity of precipi- <br />tation events. The appropriate county sheriff offices and official spotters <br />are contacted for verification of hydrologic conditions. <br /> <br />4. Watch/Warning Dissemination <br /> <br />If flooding is considered a possibility, a WATCH is issued. If flooding <br />is considered to be imminent, a WARNING is issued. The National Warning <br />System (NAWAS), utilizing the Colorado State Highway Patrol and the Colorado <br />Division of Disaster Emergency Services' (DODES) communications networks, is <br />utilized to contact the various law enforcement agencies and county emergency <br />preparedness offices. These agencies in turn provide a "fanout" to secondary <br />points of contact including hospitals, schools, etc. Public announcements are <br />made over the National Weather Service designated VHF-FM radio frequencies, <br />known as the National Weather Radio (NWR) , and through the news media via the <br />Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) national weather wire. In <br />the Denver metropolitan area, the Metropolitan Emergency Telephone System <br />(METS) is utilized. <br /> <br />It is important to comprehend inherent limitations of the satellite <br />monitoring system relative to its utilization as a warning system. There are <br />no absolute safeguards against false alarms. Sensor malfunctions are an <br />obvious cause for such false alarms. However, the computer can be programmed <br />to ignore data values that are not plausible. For example, stage values <br />greater than 10 to 15 feet are not physically possible at most stream gaging <br />stations. In the event of a flash flood in a narrow, confined canyon, the <br />remote data collection hardware would be washed away. This is especially the <br />case for a station operating downstream of a failed dam. Ice jams on a river <br />can cause the upstream stage to increase and consequently provide invalid <br />discharge conversions. There is always a time lapse from the time a hydro- <br />logic event occurs to when the system identifies that it has occurred and when <br />a random (emergency) transmission is sent. If an event occurs at 1410 hours, <br />the system is not aware of the condition until 1415 hours since the DCP is <br /> <br />-54- <br />