A Report on 18 Warning Systems in America

by Eve Gruntfest, Univ of Colorado, United States,
Carole Huber, Univ of Colorado, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Computerized Decision Support Systems for Water Managers

Abstract:

Of all weather related disasters in the United States, floods are the primary cause of death, and most flood related deaths result from flash floods. One of the major changes in flash flood mitigation in the past decade is the number of communities which have adopted warning systems. The author conducted a survey of eighteen early warning systems in the United States developed by communities or regions to provide protection against flash floods or dam failures. The study revealed a number of problems and issues which must be considered as communities make decisions regarding the adoption of warning systems. The record on these systems is too short for a precise assessment of how successful these systems are. However, if the goals of reducing loss of lives and property from flooding are to be achieved, warning systems must be only one part of a comprehensive flood loss reduction program.

Subject Headings: Disaster warning systems | Floods | Flash floods | Failure analysis | Dam failures | System analysis | Urban and regional development | United States

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