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. .- -- -- ~ ANALYSIS OF INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATURAL PHENOMENA, POPULATION PATTERNS AND LOCAL PREPAREDNESS FLASH FLOODING AND POPULATION VULNERABILITY Flash flooding almost anywhere in Colorado represents the highest vulnerability that Coloradans have to natural disaster. Most of Colorado's population is exposed to the risks of flash flooding. Even people who live on the eastern plains are period ically impacted. But in general those elements of the population who live near the canyons of the Front Range are in the greatest danger. People who live near other canyons across the State, mainly the Western Slope, are also seriously threatened. A more specific way to identify those elements of Colo- rado's population that are particularly at risk is to examine the many canyons across the State which have been identified by the State Geologist as particularly suscep- tible to flash flooding and other geological hazards. Then each of these canyons can be compared to existing settlement patterns to determine those in which significant elements of the population live. Of the many canyons in Colorado susceptible to flash flooding, those shown at Table 6, below have important communities located near or in them., Elements of these communities are clearly at risk. Many other communities are also at considerable risk depending on their proximity to a dangerous canyon or stream. When flood areas are ranked by order of the most population at risk, that is those that have significant elements of the population living close to the flood area, results are as shown on Table 7, These areas are listed in the order of the number of people generally exposed to flash flooding; the highest numbers of population at risk are ranked first. People who live in or near the areas shown on Table 7, page 19, are subject to the greatest risk in the State from flash flooding. They are in immediate danger, and must continue to take steps to increase their preparedness if a high level of readiness does not now exist. A study of the "Largest Known Floods at Various Front Range LocationsR (analyzed by river basin) indicates that over 350 people have died as a result of flooding since the 1800's, see Annex D*. A local warning and evacuation plan is needed because the speed of onset of a flash flood is often so short that little time is available for *Wayne E. Graham, P.E, 17