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<br />" <br /> <br />-- <br /> <br />involvement in the Federal Flood Insurance Program. Most <br />high risk communities -- those populated areas near hazar- <br />dous zones -- have developed or are actively working on <br />response plans oriented on local hazards. Exercises are <br />being conducted to test community understanding of published <br />plans. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The processes of mitigation and preparedness are under- <br />way but large risks and high vulnerability still exist. An <br />important problem which is a distinct obstacle to progress <br />has become increasingly clear. Differing entities -- <br />principally city and county governments -- have not combined <br />concepts, leadership authority, operational techniques and <br />resources to mutually build preparedness. Means have not <br />been developed except in a few unusual situations to achieve <br />the integration necessary for effective preparedness. An <br />outstanding example of success in integration however, is <br />the Multi Area Response System (MARS) developed in Boulder <br />County/City. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />The Div:!.sion of Disaster Emergency Services (DODES) <br />has instituted an "On-site Preparedness" program to enhance <br />and stimulate local efforts. DODES has visited* over half <br />of Colorado's counties with the purposes of: assisting the <br />county to improve its preparedness posture and to meet the <br />standards imposed by the Colorado Disaster Act of 1973, <br />integrating city, county and state plans and informing State <br />agencies o! local problem areas. Levels of preparedness are <br />rising but a significant gap remains. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Despite rising preparedness levels, such realities as: <br />the 1965 flood, the Big Thompson flash flood of 1976, the <br />Thornton tornaQo of 1981, the Lawn Lake dam collapse of <br />1982, the number of high hazard dams in Colorado and the <br />potential iml?act of a severe earthquake, result in an <br />unmistakeab1e realization of very high risk. This risk <br />evolves from the proximity of natural phenomena and a <br />growing population in Colorado. The need for each community <br />to be aware of its own vulnerability as a consequence of <br />local natural hazards, population patterns and its status of <br />preparedness is of crucial importance. Each communi ty <br />should analyze these relationships from their own local <br />points of view. <br /> <br />* By January 1983 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />i___ <br /> <br />16 <br />