[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1320-E1321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING THE TROPICAL CYCLONE INLAND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT AND 
                     WARNING SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2001

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
improve the forecasting of inland flooding associated with tropical 
storms and to develop an inland flood warning system to alert residents 
of dangerous flooding.
  The people of North Carolina are all too familiar with the death and 
devastation that can come from the heavy rains that hurricanes and 
tropical storms often bring to our state. In 1999, Hurricane Floyd 
killed forth-eight people and caused nearly $3 billion worth of 
property damage, primarily through flooding in inland communities. 
Recently, Tropical Storm Allison cut a path across the nation, killing 
more than 50 people.
  If Floyd and Allison taught us anything, it was that we have been 
more successful preparing coastal communities for these types of storms 
than in preparing inland communities. Too many folks think of 
hurricanes or tropical storms as something that affects only the coast 
and beach cottages. These storms hit us where we live.
  Floyd and Allison demonstrated all too clearly that the greatest 
threat posed by these storms are the torrential rains that often do the 
most damage hundreds of miles inland. A new study by Ed Rappaport of 
the Tropical Prediction Center shows that since 1970, freshwater 
flooding caused 59 percent of storm deaths in the United States, 
whereas only one percent lost their lives in coastal storms surges.
  Inland residents need a warning system that raises the awareness of 
the destructiveness of these storms so they can protect their families 
and their property.
  Currently, technology exists to help track and prepare coastal 
communities for the wind, rain, and storm surge damage associated with 
tropical cyclones. But, now we must move forward with efforts to 
improve inland flood forecasting and warnings. This bill will provide 
the funds and the road map to get us there. Ultimately, we can save 
lives.
  This legislation builds on work being done by National Weather 
Service (NWS), emergency management officials, meteorologists and 
others to reduce the risks of injury due to inland flooding. The bill 
authorizes $5.75 million over five years for the National Weather 
Service to improve its ability to forecast inland flooding associated 
with tropical storms and hurricanes and to develop and deploy an inland 
flood warning index or system--such as one similar to the Saffir-
Simpson scale for wind speed familiar to coastal residents.
  Joe Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Administration, recently expressed a too prevalent view about storm 
damage when he said, ``I don't think that we can fault the forecasters. 
No one can predict 36 inches of rain.''
  We must do better than that. It's time to develop the tools so 
forecasters can warn the public and emergency management officials of 
the potential for flooding associated with tropical cyclones. We are in 
the middle of hurricane season, and a deadly storm could occur any day 
now. I am pleased that my bill has the support of so many Science 
Committee members including Chairman Boehlert and ranking member Hall. 
I hope we can see action on this life-saving bill soon.

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