Flash floods have become the nation's number one stormy weather killer in the 1970s. Deaths from flash floods are now approaching 200 each year compared to an average of less than 70 per year during the preceding 30-year period. Losses from flash floods are now nearly 10 times what they were in the 1940s. To combat these escalating losses the National Weather Service (NWS) is expanding its efforts to improve forecasting and warning of flash floods and to improve the public's response to flash flood threats. This paper summarizes the present and planned NWS operational flash flood warning and disaster preparedness programs. FIG. 2. Damage resulting to the John Enos home on Murphy Creek, mi from the Applegate River, near Med ford, Oreg., after a flash flood in January 1974.

Severe local storms (tornadoes, waterspouts, and thunderstorms accompanied by large hail and/or damaging winds) kill more than 100 persons and injure several thousands more, 011 the average, each year. In an attempt to reduce the casualties from these storms the National Weather Service's Severe Local Storm Warning and Disaster Preparedness Programs were developed. This paper gives an overview of these important operational programs.