III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 286 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 24, 2009 Mr. Isakson (for himself and Mr. Chambliss) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing condolences to the families of the individuals killed during unusual storms and floods in the State of Georgia between September 18 and September 21, 2009, and expressing gratitude to all of the emergency personnel who continue to work with unyielding determination to meet the needs of Georgia’s residents.

Whereas beginning on September 18, 2009, the State of Georgia was hit by days of unusually strong storms that resulted in downpours and flooding; Whereas numerous Georgia rivers and creeks, including the Chattooga and Chattahoochee Rivers and the Chickamauga Creek, swollen by days of rain, overtopped their banks, creating a dangerous and deadly situation for nearby residents; Whereas the storms and floods took human lives; Whereas the floodwater destroyed homes, flooded roadways, including major highways, compromised drinking water, severely damaged plumbing systems, and caused significant damage to homes and businesses; Whereas on September 21, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties, including Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens, and Walker Counties; Whereas the National Weather Service estimated that between 15 and 22 inches of rain fell in the metropolitan Atlanta counties of Gwinnett, Douglas, and Paulding between September 18 and September 21, 2009; Whereas the rains broke a 130-year-old record at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport; Whereas hundreds of Georgians were evacuated from their homes, and more than 300 people sought refuge in shelters; Whereas Governor Perdue estimated that more than 1,000 residences were seriously flooded; Whereas the weather closed schools in several counties; Whereas as many as tens of thousands of people were without power in metropolitan Atlanta; Whereas search and rescue operations functioned in several counties where the water continued to rise; Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency coordinated with local emergency personnel and worked tirelessly to protect human lives and rescue those threatened by the floods; Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency facilitated requests for assistance from people and first responders all across the State of Georgia; Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and other first responders acted valiantly in life-safety response operations, including delivering sandbags and rescuing people trapped in their cars and homes from the floodwater; Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency activated its national and regional response coordination centers and worked closely with the State of Georgia to monitor the response efforts and identify and respond to any immediate emergency needs for the people and communities of the State that were impacted by the devastating floods; and Whereas volunteers gave their time to help ensure that evacuees were sheltered, clothed, fed, and comforted through this traumatic event: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the flooding in the State of Georgia; (2)expresses its condolences to the families who lost their homes and other property in the floods; (3)expresses gratitude and appreciation to the people of the State of Georgia and the surrounding States, who worked to protect people from the rising floodwaters; (4)expresses its support as the Federal Emergency Management Agency responds to the needs of the people and communities affected by the flooding; and (5)honors the emergency responders, within and beyond metropolitan Atlanta and the State of Georgia, for their bravery and sacrifice during this tragedy.