[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1875-H1876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TORNADO IN SOUTHWEST OHIO

  (Mr. PORTMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, last Friday a terrible tornado ripped 
through the heart of the district I represent in Southwest Ohio. Eight 
hundred homes were destroyed or damaged. The Cities of Blue Ash, 
Montgomery, and Loveland, Symmes, Sycamore and Deerfield Townships were 
the hardest

[[Page H1876]]

hit. Dozens of businesses were damaged and destroyed, four people 
killed, 34 injured, and hundreds of southwest Ohioans are tonight 
without a home. Our hearts go out to these families who are now trying 
to put their lives back together.
  The good news is that they are getting help. There has been a 
remarkable outpouring of support from their neighbors to help people 
pull their lives back together. I spent the last few days working along 
with State and local officials, the Red Cross, other volunteers, police 
and fire fighters, and Federal officials from SBA and FEMA.
  People from every neighborhood in our region have come to help. Folks 
in our area have really rallied behind these hard-hit communities. Our 
prayers go out to the families, and our thanks and appreciation go out 
to all the hard-working volunteers, emergency management personnel and 
local officials who, I believe, have done an outstanding job at a very 
difficult time.
  But we need more help. I urge President Clinton to take prompt action 
on Ohio Governor Bob Taft's request that Southwest Ohio be declared a 
Federal disaster area.

                          ____________________