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<br />PIKES PEAK REGION EARLY FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM <br /> <br />From the outset it was obvious to the Task Force that any <br />system developed would have its primary impact on saving lives <br />and not property. The historic development of the flood plain <br />areas had left little hope of reducing property loss without the <br />expenditure of large amounts of money on reclamation, <br />reconstruction, and floodproofing. The conceptual design cost <br />for a single capital improvement project would pay the majority, <br />if not all, of the cost for implementation of a warning system. <br /> <br />The plan developed, listed courses of action and resources <br />to be explored. Research of available or planned systems that <br />already attempt to meet the need was done. Key people in utility <br />departments and federal and state agencies were contacted. <br />Federal agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal <br />Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service were <br />contacted to request funding and design support. Other <br />jurisdictions that had implemented programs were contacted for <br />advice, information, and support. <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION <br /> <br />The early warning system would cover approximately 580 <br />square miles in western EI Paso County including six <br />municipalities and the most heavily urbanized portions of the <br />County. The proposed system consists of 26 remote sensing <br />stations--6 stream level gauges and 20 precipitation gauges. The <br />remote sensors would relay data through a radio transmitter to a <br />primary base station located at the El Paso County Disaster <br />Services Office, 230 East Kiowa. Disaster Services is <br />responsible for initiating and coordinating evacuation activities <br />during emergencies. A secondary base station would be located at <br />the Regional Building Department, 101 West Costilla. The <br />Building Department would function as the operation and <br />maintenance group for the system. In addition, the data <br />collected would be forwarded to the National Weather service at <br />Peterson Field. The Weather Service is responsible for issuing <br />flash flood warnings. Exhibit 1 depicts a preliminary siting of <br />the equipment. <br /> <br />COST <br /> <br />The base station's major components are a micro-computer, <br />radio receiver/data decoder, and printer. The primary base <br />station would also be equipped with weather radar and detailed <br />regional mapping. The secondary base station would not have <br />these two features but would include necessary maintenance <br />equipment and replacement parts. Costs for the system are <br />estimated as follows: <br /> <br />30 <br />