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. . Dry Creek is short, and few buildings in the flood plain have the structural requirements necessary to allow ":,,atertight closures. . Raising. Elevating existingstruclUres to eliminate or reduce flood damages is a method of flood prooflng. This approach is generally the most costly and is only feasible in extreme situations with frequent flooding. Additionally, the elevation of anex.istingstTUcrurecanrnakeitless=sibleandisofteneonsideredanaesthetic detriment. . Walls/Levees!Berms. Individual walls, levees, or herms can be used to protect one or several buildings. The cost varies, depending on the type of protection used. and the level of flood protection required. Generally, walls are the most costly and small levees are the least costly. Thisteehnique may be justified for one or several isolated buildings which are subject to frequent fiooding at moderate flood levels. One problem associated with this type of flood proofIng is that sufficient room is normally not available for levees. Access problems are caused by either levees or walls, and alleve1s ofrnore than a few feet, they are J.ikcly to be aesthetically unacceptable. Additionally, because of the associated problems, thesc structures may be limited to lower level flooding and may not provide protection or reduce damages at less frequent but more severe levels of flooding. plain. Accurate forecasts and warnings that permit sufficient time to evacuate the flood plain can significantly reduce the potential for !ossoflife and, tosoffie extent, reduce damages by moving contents to higher elevations and evacuating vehicles. Currently, Fort Collins does oot have a flood warning system on Dry Creek. Based on a reconnaissance-level analysis, it was determined that a flood warning system may be effective for reducing the potential for loss of life and, if feasibility studies were conducted, a detailed assessment of a flood warning system may be warranted. An effective emergency evacuation plan would consist of; (I) a warning system; (2) a means of disseminating an evacuation order to the people; and (3) a means of establishing evacuation procedures, evacuation routes,andsheltersforevaeuees during a flood. 8ec;!.use of the short peaking time on Dry Creek, a flood warning and emergency evacuation plan alone would not be an effective means of reducing flood damages. FWOD INSL'RANCE Flood insurance would reduce the fInancial effect of flood losses by distributing these losses over time and to larger populations. Existing flood damage potential would not be reduced because neither flood plain land use nor the incidence of flooding would be changed. Flood proofing could be considered for specific high-damage structures that are subject to flooding. Generally, it is not considered a feasible alternative for resolving flood problems on DryCreck. Flood insurance has been available w property owneT5 in the Dry Creek flood plain for over a decade. Both the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County have passed the necessary land use regulations for their respective jurisdictions and have enrolled in the FEMA reglllar flood insurance program. The City enrolled in the regular flood insurance program in July 1979, and the county enrolled in this program in April ]979. In 1990, there were 109 structures within the city and 395 structures in the unincorporated part of the county insured as part of the flood FJ DOll W ARNTNG ANTl F,MERGF..NCY EV AC1M.JJOJS An effective flood warning system includes flood forecasting, flood warning, and emergency evacuation. Forecasting reliability depends on the size of the drainage area and other hydrologic factors. The feasihility of a warning system depends on the availahle communicatio~.s network and the distribution of people in the flood '-3 '4 . .