FLOOD04676 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

.' ". -- .,- -- and businesses in the coverage area purchase relatively inellpensive (approximately $35.00), tone activated radios, vulnerability can be significantly reduced. Community warning systems are also vitally important. Money expended on these systems will eventually be repaid manyfold. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Coloradan's vulnerability to the five natural events discussed in this study is very high, Flash and riverine flooding, earthquakes, dam failure flooding and tornados have such enormous impact and in all cases except riverine flooding have such speed of onset that reductions of vulner- ability through preparedness is difficult. Those people who live in or close to Colorado's major canyons and flood areas, particularly those along the Front Range, are in continuing danger. Heavy rainfall over any one of these canyons could resul t in a rushing torrent of water which destroys people and property in the way. Boulder, Clear, Bear, Fountain and Monument Creeks and the Big Thompson are some of the better known areas at risk. Also, sustained rainfall particularly in the spring over Colorado's major rivers can yield a predictable, large scale flood that will do great damage. Earthquakes may occur wi th enough intens i ty to cause massive building and property destruction and loss of life in Denver and other Front Range cities. A repetition of the IBB2 event would probably cause heavy loss. At the lower end of the earthquake intensity scale, many Coloradans across the State live in continual risk of a resulting dam failure flooding. Dam failure may be brought on by other events, but regardless of cause a very large number of Coloradans are at risk, Again, gradients in the State are steep enough that times of onset are likely to be very short. Governments across the State have been informed of the location of high hazard dams so that threatened elements of population have been identified in very general terms. Further identification and site specific planning by local governments concerned is a prime need. High vulnerability from tornados affects the entire Eastern Slope region primarily in May, June and July. Vulnerability is growing as population concentrates in the foothills of the Front Range and as expansion towards the East continues. Most vulnerable are mobile homes, buildings without basements, and schools. warning systems are im- proving, but speed of onset of tornados is so rapid that response times are inordinately short and unlikely to yield sufficient time for full protection. J 27