[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4728-S4729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            KANSAS TORNADOES

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, the State of Kansas was also hit by the 
same system that hit Oklahoma which caused so much tragedy and damage. 
I would like to speak for a few minutes on that.
  We had a number of families that had homes destroyed. We had five 
people killed in Kansas, hundreds were injured, and thousands of people 
lost their homes and businesses. I know they are in the hearts and 
minds of all Americans today, and we will stand ready to assist in that 
in any way we can.
  The devastation that these tornadoes left in their paths is just 
shocking.
  I want to show you a picture of the aftermath. This was actually 
taken of the damage that took place in Moore, OK. You can just see the 
devastating power that is in one of these systems that can rise up so 
fast and cause so much destruction. In Wichita, the trail of 
destruction was 15 miles long and 5 miles wide.

  As I mentioned previously, five Kansans lost their lives, and more 
than 70 people were injured from the fatal twisters.
  More than 500 homes have been damaged or destroyed, leaving many 
people homeless.
  I have the second picture that I wanted to show people, a view of 
what has taken place. This is an aerial view of the Lake Shore Trailer 
Park in South Wichita. You can see where the path of the tornado was, 
where it was the most intense going through with just absolute 
destruction in the wake of that path of where it went through.
  More than 50,000 people have been left without power.
  Sedgwick County, KS, where Wichita is located, has reported that over 
1,100 structures were destroyed, and more than 7,100 structures were 
damaged.
  In the town of Haysville, right next to Wichita, 27 businesses have 
been wiped out, and virtually eliminating the business district of this 
Wichita suburb.
  The father of one of my staffers--the person who is actually my 
scheduler--is the principal of Chisolm Life Skills Center in Wichita. 
His entire school was demolished by this tornado.
  We are very proud of the rapid response of people who have reached 
out to help us through this terrible tragedy--the State and local 
authorities in Kansas, the rescue personnel, the Kansas National Guard, 
FEMA, and citizens of the Wichita area. They have really reached out in 
that typical Midwestern tradition of helping others when they are 
having difficulty.
  I am also pleased to report that the President has responded quickly 
to the situation in both Kansas and Oklahoma by ordering Federal relief 
to those counties hit by these devastating tornadoes. The American Red 
Cross and the Salvation Army have provided 800 numbers for those 
wishing to help victims of these disasters.
  I have pictures of a couple of victims. This apartment complex was 
destroyed in the wake of the path of the tornado. This is a picture of 
Suzie Dooley and her daughter, Sarah, who is 13, and their family dog, 
Wilma, trying to gather themselves after losing their mobile home near 
55th Street, South, in Wichita. Their faces show the destruction they 
have been through, but also the hope and thanks they are alive and were 
not injured in the process.
  The Red Cross and Salvation Army are offering shelter for people in 
Wichita who need help. The Red Cross has an 800 number, 800-HELP-NOW, 
to contact to provide help. We can provide a local phone number. They 
are on the Internet at www.DisasterRelief.org. Funds can be sent to the 
American Red Cross in Wichita. The Salvation Army has an 800 number as 
well.
  I know the nature of Kansans and Americans is to help one another in 
a time of need. I will work with Federal and State authorities to 
provide fast and effective relief to families and communities harmed by 
this natural disaster.
  I know I speak for my Senate colleague, my fellow Senator from 
Kansas, Senator Pat Roberts, in saying we will continue to keep the 
victims and their families in our actions, thoughts, and prayers as we 
hope much of the rest of the country will in this very difficult time.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I am sure all of our colleagues express 
our deep sympathy to the Senators from Oklahoma and Kansas and the 
communities that were so devastated by these storms.
  We have all seen these disasters happen, and then the inspiration 
that Senator Nickles alluded to, with everyone coming together. 
Clearly, this takes a lot of effort and a long time to dig out.
  Our prayers will be with these Senators and these citizens of the 
fine States of Oklahoma and Kansas.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota is recognized.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I add my words to those who talked about 
the tragedy in Oklahoma this morning. I remember watching television 
last night and seeing the power and the destructive might of those 
storms that swept across Oklahoma and parts of Kansas as well.
  I have a feeling for what the people are going through, as a result 
of the disasters that hit North Dakota in 1997. We had the worst flood 
in 500 years in Grand Forks, ND, and we had 95 percent of the town 
evacuated, the largest mass evacuation of a city in the United States 
since the Civil War. I know the trauma those people are facing, and I 
know the difficulty of recovery.

[[Page S4729]]

  Our hearts go out to the people in Oklahoma and Kansas who have been 
so affected. I hope they know that we are prepared to respond and to 
help. We in North Dakota remember very well how people reached out a 
helping hand to our State, so many people from around the country who 
actually came to North Dakota to help us rebuild--the Red Cross, the 
other organizations, the Salvation Army. We had a woman from California 
who came to town and gave $2,000 to every family that had been 
affected, a gift of tens of millions of dollars.
  We remember very well the Federal Government's rapid response, the 
agencies of the Federal Government that moved to assist the people who 
were affected. FEMA did an absolutely superb job under the leadership 
of James Lee Witt. We will never forget it. The Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, under the leadership of Secretary Cuomo, did a 
superb job, and we will never forget their help. The SBA was quick to 
move in to help businesses. We know all of those agencies will be ready 
to respond in Oklahoma and Kansas as well.
  I hope that we see the Congress respond. I believe the people in 
Oklahoma and Kansas deserve the same kind of rapid and full response 
that we received in North Dakota. Frankly, I hope they don't face some 
of the delays we faced in trying to get a congressional response, 
because when people are devastated, they should not have to wait for 
help. This Government is big enough and strong enough and this country 
is generous enough to move to help immediately.
  Mr. President, again, our hearts go out to the people in Oklahoma and 
Kansas who have lived through this trauma; and to those who have lost 
relatives and loved ones, we share their deep sorrow.

                          ____________________