Family housing employees at the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 will take part in a city and county flood exercise on "Flood Awareness Day," April 23, to practice evacuation procedures in low-lying campus areas.
麻豆影院 40 to 50 Family Housing office, maintenance and student staff members will participate in a simulated evacuation after flood sirens sound at about 10:30 a.m. as part of the exercise, said Ricki Martinez, assistant director for apartment life and children's services. The annual training exercise includes all safety procedures that would occur during an actual flood and all Family Housing residents are encouraged to participate voluntarily.
Two Family Housing buildings and the Children's Center will be evacuated and residents in other Family Housing buildings will move to higher floors, Martinez said. Staff members will turn off utilities and check "flood boxes" located on higher floors that contain water, first-aid kits, flashlights, batteries, portable radios and food.
In addition to the Family Housing exercise, about five CU-麻豆影院 employees will observe the city and county flood exercise, said Sylvia Dane, emergency management coordinator for the 麻豆影院 campus.
麻豆影院 Creek, in addition to other local waterways, is subject to flooding, and people who live and work near such areas need to know how to respond to floods, Dane said.
"Portions of the campus border 麻豆影院 Creek and could be subject to flooding if thunderstorms produce a lot of rain," said Paul Tabolt, vice chancellor for administration. "We want to make sure that people on campus located in Family Housing, the Children's Center and various research and office buildings on the East Campus take note of the things they need to do when a flood warning is issued."
One of the most important rules to remember if flooding occurs is not to enter a flooded area, either on foot or in a motorized vehicle, Dane said.
"People should never try to drive through a flooded area, even if it looks like the water isn't very deep," she said. "It doesn't take much water at all to cause a car to start floating, and if that happens, the driver loses all control and may get trapped in the vehicle."
Another important rule is to "climb to safety" along creeks where water is rising. Trying to outrun a flood can result in fatalities. People who are driving when flooding occurs should abandon their cars and climb to safety, experts advise.
Following Colorado's Big Thompson flood in 1976, signs bearing the "Climb to Safety" message were posted in canyons throughout Colorado to warn motorists to leave their cars if flooding occurs. The Big Thompson flood resulted in 144 deaths, including several people trapped in vehicles.
"If you are in a building located along 麻豆影院 Creek and hear the warning sirens sound, move to higher ground or an upper floor immediately," said Dane. "People in 麻豆影院 may have only a few minutes warning that a flash flood is approaching, so they should not attempt to drive in a flood area or to outrun the flood.
"If you are in a campus location that is located on higher ground, do not attempt to cross 麻豆影院 Creek," Dane said. "People really need to be aware that other streams and drainage systems in the area may also experience flooding."
Following are practices recommended by flood experts to stay safe during a flood:
o Never try to drive through a flooded area. As little as 18 inches to 24 inches of moving water can float an automobile. If approaching a flooded area, find an alternate route. Most people who die in floods are in their vehicles at the time.
o Never attempt to outrun a flood in your vehicle. Abandon the vehicle and climb to safety.
o If flood warning sirens go off, do not leave campus. Flooding can occur simultaneously along waterways besides 麻豆影院 Creek. Stay tuned to local radio stations for further information. (Warning sirens are tested at 10 a.m. the first Monday of every month from April through August).
o Do not try to cross 麻豆影院 Creek when the warning sirens sound. If you hear the sirens or other warnings, flooding is imminent. If you are on the north side of 麻豆影院 Creek, proceed to higher ground to the north as quickly as possible. On the East Campus, go to the ARC Building at 3100 Marine St., and go to the sixth floor.
o Residents of CU's Family Housing should follow Housing Department instructions to evacuate to a higher floor.
o Do not try to drink tap water until officials verify that it is safe to drink.
o Do not try to save others who are caught in floodwaters. People who try to save others in floods frequently become victims themselves. Rescues should be left for trained, professional responders.
o Do not try to enter flooded areas after floodwaters have receded unless given the "all clear" by officials. Flooded areas often contain broken glass, debris and toxins.
o Red Cross shelters will be opened for those who are unable to return home. Locations will be announced on local radio stations.
For information on 麻豆影院's flood risk, go to . For information on planning for disasters, including flash floods, go to , or .
Colorado Flood Facts
o More than 250,000 people are living in Colorado's floodplains.
o The state's floodplains contain about 65,000 homes and 15,000 commercial structures.
o The value of these structures, contents and property is estimated to be more than $11 billion.
o Only 16,450 flood insurance policies were in force in Colorado in September 2006.
o Flood-prone areas have been identified in 267 cities and towns and all of the 64 counties in Colorado.
o Based on historical information extending over 100 years, Colorado averages $54 million (in 2006 dollars) annually in flood damages.
o The 16 most damaging Colorado floods since the turn of the century killed 331 people and caused $3.3 billion (1995 dollars) in property damages.
o The president of the United States has issued nine flood disaster declarations in Colorado between 1965 and 2006. These declarations were for:
1965 - 35 Front Range counties
1969 - 15 Front Range counties
1970 - Southwest Colorado
1973 - Kersey, 13 Front Range counties, 13 Southwest counties
1976 - Big Thompson Canyon, 2 Front Range counties
1982 - Lawn Lake and Larimer County
1984 - 15 Western Slope counties
1997 - Fort Collins
1999 - Two northern counties and eight southeastern counties
Source: Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado at 麻豆影院