Whereas during August 2007, severe thunderstorms were
responsible for bringing as much as 18 inches of torrential rain to parts of
the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin,
resulting in devastating floods;
Whereas these storms tragically took the lives of at least
20 people;
Whereas these storms injured countless other people,
damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated businesses and
institutions;
Whereas on August 20, 2007, the Governor of Oklahoma
declared Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey,
Grady, Jefferson, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Muskogee,
Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens, and
Washita Counties, Oklahoma, to be in a state of emergency as a result of these
storms;
Whereas on August 21, 2007, the Governor of Minnesota
declared Fillmore, Houston, Steele, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona Counties,
Minnesota, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these storms, and
subsequently Dodge and Jackson Counties, Minnesota, received a Federal major
disaster declaration as well;
Whereas on August 20 and 21, 2007, the Governor of
Wisconsin declared Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk, and Vernon Counties,
Wisconsin, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these storms;
Whereas on August 22, 2007, and in the days following, the
Governor of Iowa declared Allamakee, Appanoose, Boone, Calhoun, Cherokee,
Davis, Humboldt, Mahaska, Montgomery, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Union, Van Buren,
Wapello, Wayne, Webster, and Winneshiek Counties, Iowa, to be in a state of
disaster as a result of these storms;
Whereas on August 22, 2007, the Governor of Ohio declared
Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, Van Wert, and
Wyandot Counties, Ohio, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these
storms;
Whereas on August 24, 2007, and in the days following, the
Governor of Illinois declared Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Lake, LaSalle,
Kane, Knox, McHenry, Warren, and Will Counties, Illinois, to be in a state of
disaster as a result of these storms;
Whereas President Bush declared 8 counties in Minnesota, 8
counties in Ohio, 22 counties in Oklahoma, 14 counties in Wisconsin, 6 counties
in Illinois, and 14 counties in Iowa to be major disaster areas as a result of
these storms, and individuals and families, State and local Governments, and
certain private nonprofit organizations in these areas became eligible for
individual or public Federal disaster assistance or both;
Whereas numerous individuals and entities have selflessly
and heroically given of themselves and their resources to aid in the disaster
relief efforts; and
Whereas the catastrophic injury, death, and damage in
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin would have been even
worse in the absence of local relief efforts: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)expresses
heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that caused
severe flooding during August 2007 in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin;
(2)conveys gratitude
to the local, State, and Federal officials and emergency personnel who
responded swiftly to the crisis, including emergency management teams in each
of the affected States, Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, and
David Paulison, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency;
(3)recognizes the
generous and selfless support of citizens, local businesses, the American Red
Cross, the United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army; and
(4)reaffirms support
for helping the victims of the flooding rebuild their homes and lives.