<br />Colorado Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan - 1 !l99 ==:=-
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<br />benefit;~::~inable ';;001 the -:e of flo:~PlatnS ~~~- the 1
<br />potential losses to individuals and society arising from
<br />such use. Various floodplain managemEmt strategies
<br />are or~I,:mized in Appendix D.
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<br />and/or political oppositions, Perceptio.,s of benefit vs,
<br />threat diminish greatly as an event fades from thought.
<br />However, mitigation successes can be accomplished
<br />by: (1) preparing accurate assessment information
<br />regarding hazards; and (2) when mitigation is
<br />supported by strong leadership and a commitment for
<br />posrtive change,
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<br />Government officials at aU levels must understand that
<br />without proactive mitigation by all applicable
<br />government agencies, the costs as~sociated with a
<br />natural disaster will increase. If no mrtigation is under..
<br />taken, the accumulated costs of future disasters will fa,.
<br />exceed the cost of mrtigation efforts applied now,
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<br />1.5 Methodology Used in Data Collection
<br />Generally speaking, the methodology in the develop,
<br />ment of this pian and data collection progressed from
<br />the general, non-specific to the detail ed and the par.
<br />ticular. Many avenues for data collection were used. I
<br />Personal interviews, along with technic:al research into
<br />pertinent publications are just a few of the examples,
<br />The plan looks at general ideas and issues relating to
<br />recent flood events, The Interagency Hazard Mitigation
<br />Team (IHMT) and the State Hazard IIIIrtigation Team
<br />(SHMT) efforts in defining specific recommendations
<br />for mitigation of the flood hazard were invaluable, The
<br />specific recommendations located in Chapter 5 are a
<br />result of a team effort of many individuals from federal,
<br />state, local, and private organizations,
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<br />1.6 Definitions
<br />The following definitions are offered as a guide toward
<br />better understanding the similarities and subtle
<br />differences between the major concepts discussed in
<br />this plan, all developed to reduce fiood damages
<br />(additional definrtions and acronyms are listed in
<br />Appendix A),
<br />
<br />Hazard Mitigation - A plan to alleviate by softening
<br />and making less severe the effects of a major disaster
<br />or emergency and of future disasters in the affected
<br />areas, including reduction or avoi::tance. Hazard
<br />mrtigation can reduce the severity or the effects of
<br />flood emergency on people and property by reducing
<br />the cause or occurrence of the hazard; reducing I
<br />exposure to the hazard; or reducing the effects through
<br />preparedness, response, and recovelY measures.
<br />Hazard mitigation is a management strategy in which
<br />current actions and expenditures .to reduce the
<br />occurrence or severity of potential flood disasters are
<br />balanced wrth potential losses from future floods,
<br />
<br />Floodplain Management A comprehensive
<br />approach to reduce the damaging effects of floods,
<br />preserve and enhance natural values, and provide for
<br />optimal use of land and water resources within the
<br />fioodplain, Its goal is to strike a balance between the
<br />
<br />Chapter 1 - 3
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<br />Dam Safety - A program to inventory, classify and
<br />inspect dams to ident~y hazardous conditions and
<br />ensure proper maintenance through corrective orders
<br />for the purpose of protecting human life ,and property.
<br />A dam (Including the waters impounded by such dam)
<br />constitutes a threat to human life or propE~rty if it might
<br />be endangered by overtopping, seepage, settlement,
<br />erosion, sediment, cracking, earth movement,
<br />earthquakes, failure of bulkheads, flashboards, gates
<br />on conduits, or other conditions.
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<br />EmergE~nc:y Preparedness - A program to reduce
<br />vulnerability of people C1nd communities of tl1is state to
<br />damage, injury, and loss of I~e and property resulting
<br />from natural or man-made catastrophes (see
<br />A,ppencfix DJ.
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<br />Geolonic Hazard Management ' A program to
<br />fE~cognize hazardous geologic processes and
<br />conditions and their potential adverse E~ffects on
<br />existin~l or proposed works of man. Upon identification
<br />of such geologic hazard constraints, a second phase
<br />of management requires effective statutory and
<br />! administrative procedures and actions to minimize loss
<br />of tife and property through prudent controls and
<br />mitigation.
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