WSP07411

• File Number: 5930
• Description: Flood Protection Section - Flood Events - By Year and Event
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 8/6/1982
• Author: Estes Park-Larimer C
• Title: Lawn Lake Dam Failure and Fall River Flood - Estes Park and Larimer County Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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001120

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"HAZARD MITIGATION"

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Hazard Mitigation...llte make or become milder, less severe. less painful.....
or so the dictionary definition reads, It's a concept in disaster preparedness
that has not really been a major consideration of our program in the past, but
under the new FEMA concept. it's I phrase that welre going to learn more about.

Actually, the "mitigation" of a hazard is not really a "new"concept, just one
that people ha.e been reluctant to do anything about as shown in the following
poem written back in "189S" by Joseph Malins:

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"Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed.
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But o.er its terrible edge tnere nao sl1ppeo
A duke. and full many a peasant.
The people said something would ha.e to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally,
Some said nput a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some. IIAn ambulance down iA the valley.ll

The lament of the crowd was profound and waS loud.
As their tears o.erflowed with their pity;
But the cry for the ambulance carried the day
As it spread through the neighbouring city,
A collection was made, to accumulate aid,
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Ga.e dollars or cents-not to furnish a fence-
But an ambulance down in the .alley.

"For the cliff 15 all right if you're careful ,II they saidi
'IAnd, if folks ever slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below-when they're stopping."
So for years (we ha.e heard), as these mishaps occured
Quick forth would the rescuers sally,
To pick up the .ictims who fell from the cliff,
With the ambulance down in the .alley,

Said one to his plea. lilt's a marvel to me
That you'd gi.e so much greater attention
To repairing results than to curing the cause;
Vou had much better aim at pre.ention,
For the mischief, of course, should be stopped at its source.
Come. neighbors and friends, let us rally,
It is far better sense to rely on a fence
Than an ambulance down in the .ally.

"He is wrong in his head," the majority said;
lIHe would-end all out earnest endeavor.
He's I man who would shirk this responsible work,
But we will support it fore.er.
Aren't we picking up all, just as fast as they fall,
And g1.ing them care liberally?
A superfluous fence is of no consequence..
If the ambulance works in the .alley,"

The story looks queer as we1ye written it here.
But things oft occur that are stranger.
MOre humane. we assert. than to succour the hurt
Is the plan of remo.irig the danger.
The best possible course is to safeguard the source
By attending to things rationally,
Ves, build up the fence and let us dispense
With the ambulance down in the .alley,

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