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;. .. . '- . .......... .--- life saving plans and organizations under a sheriff, police, or fire authority that will effectively save lives when extreme events occur. Perhaps their relative isolation has generated a high degree of awareness of local threats and interest in self preservation through preparedness. But most will need rapid and effective support from the State Government to cope with damage assessment and recovery operations if not with lifesaving. Local preparedness in recent years in general has improved significantly. A broad-scale program of emphasis, including systematic "on-site" preparedness visits and many other assistance techniques has stimulated local thought and effort. Concern with preparedness at the local level is for the most part genuine and growing. Local leadership is demanding a higher level of performance from their prepared- ness officials. There is a strong overall basis for optimism that the preparedness status of most counties will continue to improve. A concern which detracts from this progress is the continuing reluctance of various political entities to integrate their plans and operational systems, The events described in this study are of such potential magnitude that no town, city or county can expect to cope with a large or moderate scale emergency without assistance, Integration of closely related entities' capabilities is the most cost efficient means of response; State assistance follows after full scale local efforts are committed. Overall, the enormity and areal spread of the high risk events'described in this study are of such a magnitude that a massive event in a populated area will still' cost many lives. Possibly because of better preparedness, fewer lives may be lost today than would have been lost just a few years ago; but considering rates of growth in high risk areas, this may not be true. Certainly, if growth continues without commensurate stress on preparedness in the most hazardous areas, larger losses in lives and property will eventually occur. The priority of preparedness emphasis should be on those exposed to very high risks -- those who live in canyons, along rivers, below dams and in tornado and earthquake prone areas. Effective preparedness against disaster requires that all entities: 1. Study their own local high risk hazards and relate them to the existing settlement pattern; determine high priority vulnerabilities. 2. Develop plans with sufficient specificity to deal with high priority risks and vulnerabilities; these plans should include life and property saving measures as well as steps towards recovery, 29