"In a few hours during the late afternoon and evening of June 9, 1972, a record rain fell on the Black Hills of South Dakota. A stationary group of thunderstorms over the Central Hills dumped as much as 15 inches of rain in some locations in less than 6 hours. The rains resulted in record-breaking floods on streams draining the eastern slopes of the Black Hills. At least 236 people are known dead and property damage exceeded $100 million in Rapid City and the surrounding recreational areas. The Survey Team tried to determine whether the observation-warning-dissemination system worked as effectively as it could have, and whether the Rapid City flood would have lessons and applications to broader regional and national plans and programs as well"--from the Executive Summary.