[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 28 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION

 MR. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
some very special members of our armed forces--the men and women of the 
10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. Earlier this year, New 
York was hit with the worst ice storm in its history. Six counties in 
the North Country, including Jefferson County where Fort Drum is 
located, were devastated by this storm, which also caused tremendous 
damage in Northern New England and Southern Quebec.
  Nine individuals lost their lives as a result of the storm which 
knocked out power to over 150,000 customers in New York alone. Some of 
these people were without power for over a month. The ice was so thick 
that not only were thousands of utility poles destroyed, but huge 
transformer towers were crushed under the tremendous weight. The loss 
of power was especially difficult for area dairy farmers, who could not 
milk their cows for several days.
  As devastating as the storm was, it would have been much worse had it 
not been for the tremendous relief efforts of the thousands of New 
Yorkers who helped respond to this disaster. The State Emergency 
Management Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
National Guard, the Red Cross, the volunteer firefighters from across 
the state, and countless other federal, state, and local government 
personnel and private individuals all chipped in to help the North 
Country respond.
  One of the greatest contributions to this effort came from the people 
of Fort Drum. Army personnel not only made sure that everyone on the 
base was safe, they went out into the community to help the City of 
Watertown and Jefferson County respond. Fort Drum was also the central 
distribution point for supplies coming in from outside the region. I 
want to commend the Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division, 
Major General Lawson MacGruder, for the fine work he and his troops did 
during the disaster.
  General MacGruder, I salute and thank you for your efforts.

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