[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 109 (Friday, September 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8623-S8624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HURRICANE FLOYD

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, few North Carolinians will forget 
September 16, 1999. Almost 1 year ago tomorrow, Hurricane Floyd dumped 
20 inches on the State of North Carolina, eastern North Carolina, 
devastating and forever changing our State. Fifty-two North Carolinians 
were killed as a result of Hurricane Floyd; 66 counties, which is more 
than 70 percent of our State, were declared disaster areas. More than 
60,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, and hundreds of businesses were 
forced to close or relocate. Farmers were faced with sometimes the most 
difficult circumstances they had ever faced in their lives, losing 
everything for which they had worked.
  I have been to the floor many times over the course of the last year 
in an effort to secure relief for our Hurricane Floyd victims. I have 
worked closely with my colleagues, Senator Helms from North Carolina 
and Members of our House delegation, to get help for our folks who are 
hurting so badly. I have emphasized over and over that what we do or 
sometimes what we don't do affects real people's lives, the people who 
often are in very difficult places--for example, the people who were 
devastated by Hurricane Floyd.
  Last year, the Senate appropriated more than $2 billion for FEMA's 
disaster relief account. Of that total, more than $215 million was set 
aside for FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. To this day, more 
than 2,000 homes in North Carolina have been purchased and families 
have moved out of harm's way, out of the flood zone. In fact, just 
yesterday I spoke with Brenda Johnson to tell her that her buyout had 
been approved. Brenda had been living in a small apartment for almost a 
year. Finally, she will now be able to move on. Along with the buyout 
money we appropriated last year, we also secured individual family 
grants and other disaster relief programs to help people whose homes 
had been wiped out, people such as Edna Simmons of Greenville, NC.
  Greenville was actually one of the hardest hit areas struck by 
Hurricane Floyd. Unfortunately, Edna's home was one of thousands that 
were overwhelmed by the flood. For days, Edna's home sat under more 
than 4\1/2\ feet of flood water. She lost everything, and she and her 
husband and her 6-year-old daughter had to start over. At first, they 
were able to move in with her mother. Then, with the help of her fellow 
church members, volunteers, using her own savings and a grant from 
FEMA, she was able to rebuild her home. Repairs are now in the final 
stages of her home. Now, more than a year after the rain drove them 
away, Edna and her family are finally on the verge of going back home.
  This storm, however, did not just destroy homes; it also destroyed 
entire communities. The small town of Princeville is a great example. 
It was completely wiped out. Princeville residents lost their townhall; 
they lost their library, their police station, and their school. Of the 
2,000 homes in Princeville, more than 1,000 were heavily damaged or 
destroyed. And Princeville residents are a very proud group. This is 
the first town in America that was established by freed slaves. 
Princeville's residents are working very hard to rebuild and preserve 
their historic town.
  One year after the Princeville Montessori school was devastated by 
the floods, volunteers, State employees, students, and parents have 
rebuilt the school with the help of FEMA grants.
  For all the successes we have had over the last year, there are still 
shortcomings in responding to this disaster. We have heard over and 
over--I and my staff--from worried and confused constituents, folks who 
had no idea where they were supposed to go.
  Navigating the myriad programs that exist in the Federal Government 
to provide relief to hurricane victims is a time-consuming and 
sometimes very frustrating process. For example, there are Federal 
disaster programs within the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, Department of Education, Small Business Administration, 
Department of Labor, Department of Energy--just to name a few. So it is 
very hard for folks whose lives and families have been devastated as a 
result of a natural disaster to know where it is they need to go to get 
the relief they need and deserve.
  Sometimes, the assistance just doesn't come quickly enough. One 
example is Bobby Carraway, who owned a restaurant in Kinston NC, near 
the Neuse River. The river flooded, and his restaurant sat under more 
than 3 feet of water for many days. He lost his entire business. But 
with the help of his landlord, who let up on the rent, and his food 
suppliers, who told him he could pay when he could, neighbors who 
helped him clean up his business, and a large chunk of his own personal 
savings, he was able to reopen his restaurant.
  Today, one year after Hurricane Floyd threatened to take his 
livelihood, Bobby is still waiting for the Small Business 
Administration to approve his loan. He should not have to wait so long, 
and residents such as Edna should not have to navigate through these 
confusing Federal and State programs, especially when they are dealing 
with devastation to family and emotional trauma caused by natural 
disasters such as Hurricane Floyd.
  The biggest lesson we have learned from this storm is that the 
Federal, State, and local responses to disasters have to be better 
coordinated and must be more efficient.
  Senator Stevens from Alaska and I cochair the Natural Hazards 
Disaster Caucus. Seventeen Senators have joined us. Our goal is to 
provide concrete steps that Federal, State, and local programs can work 
together to protect our residents, provide a more efficient response, 
and mitigate the cost and destruction of future disasters.
  The Government can't make people whole again after a disaster, but we 
can, and should, be prepared to do all we can to help people get back 
on their feet.
  We have made great strides in our recovery in North Carolina, but we 
still have a long way to go. Most Federal officials agree it will be 
another 2 years before eastern North Carolina has completely recovered. 
Today, hundreds of people will mark the anniversary of Hurricane Floyd 
in their FEMA trailers, where they live. We are facing a rental housing 
shortfall of about 4,000 units, and thousands of victims are facing 
many years of debt as a result of this disaster.
  I am grateful to the Senate for including $50 million for North 
Carolina for the USDA's Community Facilities Grant Program in the 
Agriculture appropriations bill. This money will make a real difference 
in a town such as Farmville, which needs help rebuilding its fire 
station.
  I also want to take this opportunity to thank FEMA Director James Lee 
Witt and his entire agency for their dedication to helping those who 
simply could not help themselves.
  Governor Jim Hunt has worked tirelessly to help the residents of our 
State. Most importantly, I want to take this opportunity to thank the 
people of North Carolina--the thousands of volunteers who, over the 
course of the last year, have responded heroically to the damage done 
and the devastation done to their neighbors and friends.
  It has been a long year, and we still have a lot of work left to do. 
Hurricane Floyd's victims were innocent people, regular working people 
who have done nothing wrong but had everything taken from them as a 
result of this natural disaster. They deserve our continued support and 
dedication as they attempt to rebuild their homes and their lives.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, thank you very much.
  Mr. President, what is the order of business before the Senate?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending business is H.R. 4444.
  Mr. GRAMS. I would like to speak as if in morning business for up to 
10 minutes.

[[Page S8624]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GRAMS. I thank the Chair.

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