Twn f Avn, Twn f Basalt, Twn f Eagle, Twn f Gypsum, Twn f Minturn, Twn f Red Cliff, Twn f Vail and Eagle Cunty May 2011 T Resident, Business Owners and Visitrs f Eagle Cunty In Clrad, there are tw distinct types f flding. The first type ccurs when the snw begins t melt in the high cuntry and rivers begin t rise. Flding alng rivers and streams can ccur with a very rapid snw melt, r frm thunderstrm rains cmbining with the runff frm melting snw. The secnd type f flding, flash flding, refers t a dangerus sudden rise in water alng a creek, wash, river, r ver a nrmally dry land area. Flash flds can ccur at any time during the year and are a result f heavy rainfall, sudden breaks in river ice jams, and dam r levee failures. Flash flds can ccur within a few minutes r hurs, and can mve at surprisingly high speeds, striking with little warning. Flash flds are quite destructive because f the frce f the mving water, and the debris that accumulates in fld waters, such as trees and bulders, which can destry radways, bridges and buildings. The mst significant impacts f flding and the nes that we want t cncentrate ur effrts n are threats t life and damage t structures. Maps frm FIRM (Fld Insurance Rate Map) t assist yu in lcating yur prperty and evaluating its prximity t the 100-year fld areas are available n-line at http://www.eaglecunty.us/engineering/fldplain_mapping/ r yu may call the planning department in yur twn r the cunty fr infrmatin n yur prperty. Please visit the USGS site http://water.usgs.gv/cgibin/waterwatch?state=c&map_type=real&web_type=map t mnitr the flw (CFScubic feet per secnd) in area creeks and rivers and fr ther infrmatin as the spring melt situatin unflds. In the case f significant flding anywhere in the cunty, Eagle Cunty will activate an Emergency Operatins Center and emergency management agencies in the cunty will crdinate and assist in the respnse and recvery effrts. On behalf f the Twns f Avn, Basalt, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, Vail and Eagle Cunty Gvernment, thank yu fr yur cperatin and cncern.
FLOODING ACTION PLAN: PUBLIC WORKS WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM PUBLIC WORKS? Primary Respnsibilities f Public Wrks Staff: Mnitring rivers and streams in the cunty. Remving debris which might impede the flw f water in creeks and culverts in public right-f-way. Evaluating levels f flding and/r anticipated fld threat and determining needs. Prviding up-t-date estimates abut flding ptential and anticipated areas. Establishing pririties fr the prtectin f life safety, essential facilities, access rads, bridge structures and culverts. Prviding sandbags t area residents and businesses. FLOODING ACTION PLAN: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Primary Respnsibilities f Emergency Management: Identify actual affected areas Life threatening ptential Need t evacuate Shelter Fd and water Temprary husing Sanitatin facilities Secure affected area Traffic Crwds Establish and secure access t affected area Warn and advise the ppulatin Media Emergency Preparedness Netwrk (911 call back) Emergency Alert System ECAlert Crdinate use f persnnel and ther resurces Lgistics Cmmand Center Cmmunicatins system Assistance frm lcal agencies Assistance frm state agencies
FLOODING ACTION PLAN: FIRE/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM Fire & EMS? Primary Respnsibilities f Fire & EMS Staff: Mnitring rivers and streams in the cunty. Rescue f persns trapped by fld waters. Evaluating levels f flding and/r anticipated fld threat and determining needs. Prviding EMERGENCY sandbagging assistance t area residents and businesses. FLOODING ACTION PLAN: LAW ENFORCEMENT WHAT WILL THE EAGLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DO IN THE EVENT OF A HIGH WATER SITUATION? Duties f LAW ENFORCEMENT: Prtect life (health and well-being f the cmmunity) Cntinue t prvide essential plice services Pririties: Evaluate the threat level 24 Hur stream watch during peak run-ff perid Cmmunicatin with affected agencies Secure prperty impacted by flding Public prperty (lcal gvernment infrastructure) Private prperty - prevent lting Cntinue t prvide essential plice services Priritize plice respnse t requests fr service Additinal manpwer and ther resurces frm lcal agencies
Sandbag Availability Prperty wners wh wish t prepare befre the water rises can btain free empty sandbags (limited quantities) at sand at the fllwing lcatins when the threat f higher water is predicted: Eagle Cunty Sand and bags are available at the Hillcrest Drive at Highway 6. Residents shuld bring a shvel and be prepared t fill their wn bags. Twn f Avn Sand and bags are available at the Avn Public Wrks Facility, 500 Swift Gulch Rad. Residents shuld bring a shvel and be prepared t fill their wn bags
Twn f Eagle Greater Eagle Fire Prtectin District, 425 E. 3rd Street. Twn f Gypsum Sand and bags are available at the Gypsum Public Wrks Facility, 3297 Cley Mesa Rad. Residents shuld bring a shvel and be prepared t fill their wn bags Twn f Minturn Sand and bags are available at the Minturn Municipal Lt acrss frm the Turntable. Residents shuld bring a shvel and be prepared t fill their wn bags. Fr additinal infrmatin, cntact the Minturn Plice Department at 970.827.4272. Pre-filled sandbags are prvided t residents at the fllwing lcatins: Twn f Red Cliff Filled sandbags are available behind the Red Cliff Twn Hall, 400 Pine Street. Fr additinal infrmatin, cntact Barb Smith at 970.827.5303 Twn f Vail Sand and bags are available while supplies last at the parking lt near the I-70 exit 180 interchange in East Vail, at the Charter Bus Lt near the entrance t the Linshead parking structure and at the Nrth Trail trailhead parking lt in West Vail. Residents shuld bring a shvel and be prepared t fill their wn bags. It will be the respnsibility f prperty wners t remve and dispse f any sandbags n their prperty nce the threat f flding has past.
Each year, mre deaths ccur due t flding than frm any ther thunderstrm related hazard. Why? The main reasn is peple underestimate the frce and pwer f water. Many f the deaths ccur in autmbiles as they are swept dwnstream. Of these drwnings, many are preventable, but t many peple cntinue t drive arund the barriers that warn yu the rad is flded. Whether yu are driving r walking, if yu cme t a flded rad, Turn Arund Dn't Drwn Yu will nt knw the depth f the water nr will yu knw the cnditin f the rad under the water. Except fr heat related fatalities, mre deaths ccur frm flding than any ther hazard. Why? Mst peple fail t realize the pwer f water. Fr example, six inches f fastmving fld water can knck yu ff yur feet. While the number f fatalities can vary dramatically with weather cnditins frm year t year, the natinal 30-year average fr fld deaths is 127. That cmpares with a 30-year average f 73 deaths fr lightning, 65 fr trnades and 16 fr hurricanes. Natinal Weather Service data als shws: Nearly half f all flash fld fatalities are vehicle-related. The majrity f victims are males. Fld deaths affect all age grups. Mst flash flds are caused by slw mving thunderstrms, thunderstrms that mve repeatedly ver the same area r heavy rains frm trpical strms and hurricanes. These flds can develp within minutes r hurs depending n the intensity and duratin f the rain, the tpgraphy, sil cnditins and grund cver. Flash flds can rll bulders, tear ut trees, destry buildings and bridges, and scur ut new channels. Rapidly rising water can reach heights f 30 feet r mre. Furthermre, flash fld-prducing rains can als trigger catastrphic mud slides.
MORE HIGH WATER TIPS Call 9-1-1 t reprt any flding r endangered prperty. D Nt attempt a rescue withut prper training and equipment. READY Kits A disaster supply kit with essential fd, water, and supplies fr at least three days (72-hurs). This kit shuld be kept in a designated place and be ready t "grab and g" in case yu have t leave yur hme quickly because f a disaster, such as a fire r flash fld. Make sure all husehld members knw where the kit is kept. Mve t higher grund away frm rivers, streams, creeks, and strm drains. D nt drive arund barricades..they are there fr yur safety. If yur car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandn it immediately and climb t higher grund. Rad beds may be washed ut under fld waters. Never drive thrugh flded radways. Keep children and pets away frm fast mving streams and high water. Even six inches f water flwing quickly can knck yu ff yur feet. Stay away frm grund level transfrmers that are inundated by fld waters. If yur basement is flded, try t turn ff the electric pwer t the huse at the utside electrical panel. If the electrical panel is in the flded area d nt g near the panel. If yu have natural gas r prpane fired appliances try and turn ff the supply t the huse at the meter r at the tank. If bating r rafting early in the seasn, watch ut fr lgs and flating debris. If flding ccurs, get t higher grund. Stay away frm fld-prne areas, including dips, lw spts, valleys, ditches, washes, etc. Dn t allw children t play near high water, strm drains r ditches. Hidden dangers culd lie beneath the water. Be especially cautius at night when it is harder t recgnize fld dangers. D nt camp r park yur vehicle alng streams and washes, particularly when threatening cnditins exist. Knw what the weather is ding. Mnitr NOAA Weather Radi r yur lcal media fr vital weather related infrmatin