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protect against any flood losses which do occur. FEMA administers the program at federal, state and local levels. Once a community is part of the program, individual property owners may apply for insurance. For a community to participate in the Flood Insurance Program, it must work with FEMA to identify flood hazard areas and have Flood Boundary Maps published. Permits are then required for all proposed construction or development to ensure that construction methods and materials used minimize flood damage. At this point the federal government allows communities to enter the Emergency Phase of the program, making a limited amount of insurance available. Next, the community must adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances that meet the minimum standards as set forth by FEMA for flood hazard reduction. When this is completed, a jurisdiction is eligible for conversion to the Regular Phase of the Flood Insurance Program. Floodplain Manaaement Ordinances EI Paso County has adopted a floodplain regulation, and the jurisdictions within the county have adopted basic floodplain ordinances. These ordinances meet the requirements for entering the National Flood Insurance program. All the entities, with the exception of Monument, are in the Regular Phase of the Flood Insurance Program. All of the adopted floodplain ordinances are similar in their purpose of promoting public health, safety and welfare and in minimizing public and private losses due to flood conditions. This is accomplished by restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to public safety and property and by controlling development in the floodway and flood fringe areas. Compliance is required by these ordinances for any structure or land to be constructed, extended, converted or altered. Permits must be obtained and reviewed by the Floodplain Administrator before the construction or development begins within any flood hazard area. CURRENT FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM The current flood warning system in the Pikes Peak region is run jointly by the National Weather Service and the EI Paso County Office of Disaster Services. Eighty rain gauges and thirteen stream gauges are located throughout the county. The gauges are monitored by volunteer observers and ham operators trained in reading the gauges and reporting necessary information to Disaster Services. Spotters from various city and county departments have also been trained to watch reservoir, stream and weather conditions while on the job. 25