FLOOD04688

• County: Otero
• Community: La Junta
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Flood Preparedness Plan Arkansas River
• Date: 9/1/1993
• Prepared For: Otero County
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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1. INTRODUCTION

1. 1 Puroose and Scooe

The Arkansas River in otero County, Colorado has a long
history of flooding with the loss of lives and millions of
dollars of flood damage. The purpose of this study is to
assist the City in reducing losses during floods along the
Arkansas River through the use of a Flood Preparedness Plan.

The five components of a Flood Preparedness Plan are
Flood Threat Recognition, Warning Dissemination, Emergency
Response Actions, Post Flood Recovery/Reoccupation and
Continued Plan Management. Each of these components make up
the Sections listed in Part II of this report.

The Plan was requested by the Mayor of the City of La
Junta and prepared by the Albuquerque District Army Corps of
Engineers Flood Plain Management Services under Section 206 of
the 1960 Flood Control Act (Public Law 86-645). Leadership for
the plan is provided by City of La Junta local officials, in
cooperation with Otero County officials.

The scope of this plan consists of the measures and
actions required to help protect life and property from
flooding along the Arkansas River within the city limits of La
Junta and that portion of North La Junta in Otero County. City
officials are responsible for the five components for
structures located on the south side of the River, while
County officials are responsible for structures located in
North La Junta.

li! Flood Threat
Recognition

,., Warning
Dissemination

... Emergency
Response
Actions

~
i'~ Post Flood
Recovery/
Reoccupation

~~ Continued Plan
Management

Properties presently in the flood zones include
residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural land.
Plate 1 illustrates the study limits and vicinity.

1.2 Acknowledaements

The development of the plan was a cOllUllunity effort with
support from several agencies, public and private. The
Albuquerque District appreciates the assistance and
cooperation received from all elements.

Data for the study was provided by the City of La Junta
Engineer, Otero County Emergency Management Coordinator, Otero
County Office of the Engineer, National Weather Service,
Colorado State Office of Emergency Services, Colorado Division
of Water Resources, US Geological Survey - Water Resources
Division, and the American Red Cross. A list of references
provided by these agencies and others is given in Section 8
later in this report.

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