[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IMPLORING FEMA TO BEGIN PREPARATIONS TO RESPOND TO HURRICANE GEORGES

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, my community of south Florida is 
tensly gripping for a possible strike to the region from the dangerous 
Hurricane Georges, which has already caused great devastation in the 
neighboring islands of the Carribean, including my native homeland of 
Cuba, which is bracing for the worst.
  Those of us from south Florida still remember the nightmare of 
Hurricane Andrew that only 5 years ago fiercely destroyed our way of 
life, and from which many areas in south Florida are yet to fully 
recover.
  I implore the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, to begin 
preparations to assure a swift response to this natural disaster in the 
event that it does make landfall in south Florida. FEMA's assistance is 
critical to both protect our citizens during this hurricane or fierce 
storm, and to help the residents of the region in the aftermath of the 
natural phenomenon in an expeditious manner without much red tape.
  My colleagues from south Florida and I are ready to provide FEMA with 
any assistance on preparations to confront Hurricane Georges.

                          ____________________