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<br />In addition there are two automated flash flood alarms <br />located in the county, one on Fountain Creek at Cascade and the <br />other on Monument Creek at Woodmen Road. The flood gauges <br />automatically sound alarms at the Manitou Springs Police <br />Department for Fountain Creek and at the Disaster Services Office <br />for Monument Creek. <br /> <br />The gauge and weather observers call the National Weather <br />Service Office when rain is falling at the rate of one inch or <br />more an hour. The Weather Service then starts to monitor the <br />situation and calls Disaster services when it is raining at one <br />to two inches an hour. If these rain conditions continue and <br />stream levels start to rise, Disaster Services goes on alert and <br />issues a Flood Watch. At the Flood Watch stage, local agencies <br />and services are put on alert to possible flood conditions. If <br />Disaster services determines that flooding is actually occurring, <br />a Flood Warning is issued, and the Disaster Operations Plan is <br />put into effect. The county government will be notified, and the <br />Plan will proceed through its outlined phases. <br /> <br />LOCAL FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY PLANS <br /> <br />El Paso County <br /> <br />El Paso County currently has a flash flood warning system. <br />A flood alarm, which sounds at the Manitou Springs Police <br />Department, is activated when Fountain Creek reaches a depth of <br />3.5 feet in Cascade. In addition there are stream and rain <br />gauges throughout the county which are monitored by volunteers <br />and city and county department employees. <br /> <br />The county has developed an emergency action plan, the El <br />Paso County Disaster Plan. According to the plan, the first <br />warnings for a flash flood are received by law enforcement <br />agents, the Transportation Department, Public Works, the Fire <br />Department, the County Commissioners and the City Mana~er. <br />During a flash flood event, specific individuals and departments <br />which are utilized are the Sheriff's Office, local law <br />enforcement agencies, the Fire Department, Public Works (to <br />supply any needed equipment), ambulances and volunteer groups <br />which include the Red Cross and Search and Rescue. <br /> <br />According to the EI Paso County Disaster Plan, the Kiowa <br />Police station serves as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in <br />the case of a flash flood. Sub-EOC's (the EOC's of the various <br />departments) are situated throughout the county. Alternate EOC's <br />are also designated. In addition there are mobile field command <br />posts. <br /> <br />26 <br />