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FLASH FLOOD III -~.., .t' H. (Above, left) Keystone, South Dakota, was largely demolished by the flash flood that swept down from the Black Hifls on the night of June 9-10, 1972. (Above right) The flood waters left cars and trailers piled in heaps in Rapid City. (Left) As head of the NOAA disaster-survey team that investigated the Rapid City floods and the flood- warning system, Donald C. House, at right in light suit, met with the Common Council of Rapid City to discuss the establishment 01 a temporary flood- warning system to protect cleanup workers and the possibilities for long- term improvement in flood warnings for the area. At the head of the table is Rapid City Mayor Do~ald V. Barnett; Joseph Strahl, Chief of the Operations Branch of the National Weather Serv- ice's Office of Hydrology, is seated to the right of Mr. House. - ~ Flash.flood waves, moving at incredible speeds, can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Killing walls of water can reach 10 to 20 feet. You won't always have warning that these deadly, sudden floods are coming. But you can save yourself-your family-if you know what to expect and how to react. Before the flood know the elevation of your property in relation to nearby streams and other waterways. Investigate the flood history of your area and how man-made changes may affect future flooding. Make advance plans of what you will do and where you will go in a flash-flood emergency. When a flash-flood watch is issued listen to area radio and television stations for possible flash-flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress from the National Weather Service and public-safety agencies. Be prepared to move out of danger at a moment's notice. If you are on the road, watch for flooding at high- way dips, bridges, and low areas due to heavy rain not observable to you, but which may be indicated by thunder and lightning. When a flash-flood warning is issued for your "lI. S. GOVEH.'IJMF::'<T PRl.'IJTI:\G OFFICE: 1973-511-323/16:" area act quickly to save yourself. You may have only seconds. Get out of areas subject to flooding. Avoid already flooded areas. Do not attempt to cross a flowi ng stream on foot where water is above your knees. If driving, know the depth of water in a dip before crossing. The road may not be intact under the water. If the vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground-rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood d:Jngers. When you are out of immediate dan- ger, tune in area radio or television stations for additional information as conditions change and new reports are received. After the flash-flood watch or warning is can. celled, stay tuned to radio or television for follow-up information. Flash flooding may have ended, but general flooding may come later in headwater streams and major rivers. Flash flood me:Jns the occurrence of a danger- ous rise in water level of a stream or over a land area in a few hours or less caused by heavy rain, ice jam breakup, earthquake, or dam failure. Flash-flood watch means that heavy rains oc- curring or expected to occur may soon cause flash flooding in certain areas and citizens should be alert to the possibility of a flood emergency which will require immediate action. Flash-flood warning means that flash flooding is occurring or imminent on certain streams or designated areas and immediate precautions should be taken by those threatened.