FLOOD08504

• County: El Paso
• Community: Calhan
• Stream Name: Calhan area rivers and streams
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Floodplain Management Study
• Date: 8/1/1995
• Prepared For: Calhan
• Prepared By: USDA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

1. New residential construction or substantial improvement
of existing homes must have the lowest floor level at or
above the elevation of the lOO-year flood.

2. Non-residential construction must meet the same standard
or be flood proofed to that level.
The 1968 Act benefits owners of structures already in the flood_
prone areas by providing insurance coverage that had been
unavailable through private companies. The Act created a
cooperative program of insurance against flood damage by the
private flood insurance industry and the federal government.
The amount of coverage available and the premium rate varies
considerably depending on property location within the flood plain
and the property value. All property owners shown in this study
to be within areas subject to flooding should consider the
purchase of flood insurance,
Additional information on the Flood Insurance Program is available
from local insurance agents/brokers or FEMA by writing to:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VIIr
Natural and Technological Hazard Division
Denver Federal Center, Building 710
Denver, CO 80225
Telephone: [phone]
The National Flood Insurance Program used the Floodway Concept in
'its rate studies for communities participating in the regular
phase of the program.

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F. Flood Wa~inn ~nd Plood Forecaatina Svstem
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through
its National Weather Service Agency (NWS), maintains year-round
surveillance of weather and flood conditions. Daily weather
forecasts are issued through the NWS and disseminated by radio and
television stations. A general alert to the danger of flash
flooding is one of the service provided by the NWS.
The Office of the Colorado State Engineer, Division of Water
Resources, in cooperation with the National Weather Service.
operates a state-wide flood warning system utili~ing 78 stream
gaging stations that are part of the Colorado satellite_linked
water resources monitoring network operared by the State Engineer.
O. ~eu4tion Pl~
An "Emergency Evacuation and Operations Plan" would provide for
alerting the public of potential flooding, and coordinating
community and county services during an emergency. Planning
implementation during the time of an emergency requires
cooperation of the general public as well as local officials.

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This is especially important for f~ood fighting! evacuation, and
rescue operations. Communieation ~s extremely 1mportant during
flood alerts. Warnings issued through the NWS are disseminated by
radio to state and local officials.
RECOMMENDA'UONS

The following recommendations are included for consideration in
reducing potential flood damages:
1. Carry out periodic maintenance of bridges and culverts to
preserve their hydraulic capacity.
2. Do detailed study of need for flood proofing around
facilities in the flood plain or consider flood
insurance.
3. Information and education programs on flood hazards
should be made available to the public. "
4. The main channels should be maintained to preserve ai
balance between native vegetation, conveyance capac ty,
channel stability, and provide wildlife habitat,
In compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act,
administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it is the
responsibility of the Town of Calhan to conta~t the Corps of
Engineers before implementing any recomrnendat1on in a water of the
U.S..

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