[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H881-H883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF THE HOUSE WITH RESPECT TO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 
                      DECEMBER 22, 2003 EARTHQUAKE

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 519) expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives with respect to the earthquake that occurred 
in San Luis Obispo County, California, on December 22, 2003.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 519

       Whereas at 11:15 A.M. on Monday, December 22, 2003, an 
     earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale occurred in San 
     Luis Obispo County, California, with an epicenter 
     approximately 6 miles northeast of the community of San 
     Simeon and 24 miles northwest of the City of Paso Robles;
       Whereas the magnitude of the earthquake was such that it 
     was felt from the City of San Francisco to the Los Angeles 
     Basin, and may have caused the Coastal Range to become up to 
     a foot higher;
       Whereas the earthquake caused damage to homes, businesses, 
     and public infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, and 
     roads, that will cost millions of dollars to repair;
       Whereas tragically, 2 lives were lost and more than 40 
     persons sustained injuries;
       Whereas local public safety and law enforcement personnel 
     responded immediately, effectively, and courageously to 
     assist victims of the earthquake and otherwise protect the 
     public; and
       Whereas a Federal disaster declaration was issued on 
     January 13, 2004: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) is saddened by the loss of life and property caused by 
     the earthquake that occurred in San Luis Obispo County, 
     California, on December 22, 2003, and sends its deepest 
     condolences to the victims and their families; and
       (2) recognizes and honors those local officials, public 
     safety and law enforcement personnel, and individuals, who in 
     private or public capacity provided assistance to the victims 
     of the earthquake and their families, and commends this 
     dedicated service to the residents of San Luis Obispo and 
     Santa Barbara Counties and the State of California.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 519, introduced by the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas), honors the victims and affected residents of 
the earthquake that occurred in San Luis Obispo, California, on 
December 22, 2003. The earthquake registered a 6.5 on the Richter 
scale, and it killed two people and injured 50 others. This was the 
largest quake to hit the counties of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara 
since 1994.
  The historic town of Paso Robles was hit the hardest. Many of the 
buildings in that area were unreinforced masonry structures built over 
a century ago, and they were unfortunately no match for the 
earthquake's power. The two deaths occurred in Paso Robles. In 
addition, the earthquake's tremors were felt in San Francisco to Los 
Angeles, and more than 30 aftershocks were reported in the following 
hours. The quake knocked out power to approximately 75,000 residents, 
and many others were forced to evacuate. This resolution remembers the 
victims and those who were injured and underscores the heroic 
sacrifices made by countless disaster relief workers and emergency 
personnel after the earthquake.
  Following the wildfires that scorched hundreds of thousands of acres 
in October, the December 22 earthquake concluded a difficult fall 
season for so many California residents. Therefore, I thank the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for introducing 
this resolution. It helps us all remember the victims of this disaster.
  The resolution also appropriately recognizes the public safety 
officials and emergency response personnel who helped limit the 
earthquake's effects on the region. Many individuals, businesses, and 
organizations in surrounding areas provided much-needed assistance to 
victims in the days and the weeks following the tragedy. I commend the 
gentleman from California for the resolution's important focus in

[[Page H882]]

commending these charitable groups as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support House Resolution 
519.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1415

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Paso Robles, California, is a small town nestled in the 
Central California wine country. Since 1892, the clock tower atop the 
Mastagni Building had kept the pulse of the town, an unceasing 
progression of hours for 111 years. The ticking stopped at 11:16 a.m. 
on Monday, December 22, 2003, when the building crumbled underneath it 
and the clock fell to the street below.
  Marilyn Zafuto of Paso Robles and Jennifer Myrick of Atascadero were 
shopping at a dress shop in the Mastagni Building on that fateful day, 
and as they attempted to flee to safety, they were killed by falling 
debris. Their tragic fate made them the only two deaths of a powerful 
earthquake that shook California from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
  With a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter Scale, the San Luis Obispo 
County earthquake of 2003 threw lives into upheaval all around the 
State. In addition to the deaths of Ms. Zafuto and Ms. Myrick, 40 
people were injured in the quake and its subsequent aftershocks, which 
measured as strong as magnitude 4.7. More than 40 buildings were 
damaged, roads were buckled, gas mains were damaged, water pipes were 
ruptured. This was the largest earthquake to hit California since 1999 
when a magnitude 7.1 quake was measured in the desert near Joshua Tree 
and the first to cause deaths since the 6.7 magnitude earthquake in 
Northridge in 1994.
  The effects of this earthquake were felt far and wide across 
California. At the Federal Building in San Francisco, 165 miles 
northwest of the epicenter, the top floor swayed for 30 seconds and 
people in downtown Los Angeles reported that the streets were beset 
with a sustained rolling motion.
  As often is the case, from American tragedies come stories of 
American heroism. The San Luis Obispo earthquake is no exception. The 
200 emergency workers who toiled for hours, looking through the rubble 
for victims and tending to the wounded, deserve the admiration of this 
House as do the countless local heroes who rose to the occasion when 
circumstances called for it.
  We have not the time to tell all the stories, but I would like to 
tell you of Nick and Patricia Sherwin. Mr. Sherwin owns a jewelry store 
in the Mastagni Building in Paso Robles. When the quake hit, Mr. 
Sherwin took charge, calling for the evacuation of his store. Most of 
the people made it outside before the roof, including the clock tower, 
was shorn off the building. But two elderly customers fell before they 
could get outside. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwin went back and draped themselves 
over the fallen elderly customers and shielded them and their bodies 
until the quake subsided. Untold heroic stories like this one unfolded 
across Central California on that day.
  Mr. Speaker, in honor of men and women, Americans like these, I offer 
my respect for their quiet heroism on a day when the earth made their 
feet seem poised to betray them. I also extend, along with the rest of 
the House, my deepest condolences to the victims and families of the 
San Luis Obispo County earthquake.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the 
distinguished sponsor of this resolution.
  (Mr. THOMAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for his willingness to expeditiously move 
this resolution. Those of us in California experience earthquakes 
periodically. It is difficult to predict. The usual formula is the 
longer it has been since the last one, the sooner it is to the next 
one. When actually, if you will look at newspapers in California on a 
regular basis, literally on a daily basis there are anywhere from 
several dozen to several hundred earthquakes that occur, many of them 
are not felt.
  Periodically, we get an earthquake as occurred in Paso Robles on 
December 22. It was a good size earthquake, 6.5 on the Richter Scale is 
a good size earthquake. The earthquake that literally leveled downtown 
Bakersfield in 1952 was only 6.1. The earthquake that produced between 
20 and 50,000 lives lost in Bam, Iran, in 2003 was about the same 
magnitude, 6.5.
  This particular earthquake caused about a quarter of a billion 
dollars worth of damage in homes, businesses and government offices. 
But only two lives lost. And even then, it was a peculiar set of 
circumstances that produced the tragedy of the two lives lost. I have a 
district office in San Luis Obispo County in the 1915 Atascadero City 
Hall which was shook pretty severely, bricks were falling, and the 
building itself suffered a number of cracks. And in visiting the site 
and in the surrounding area, again and again and again it was clear how 
fortunate we were, how many near misses occurred.
  I do want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for 
moving this resolution, and for all of us to remember those individuals 
who lost their life, those individuals who suffered major business 
damage downtown, and to the general psyche.
  I know that when earthquakes occur, I have seen local television 
stations go to the airport to interview people, to ask them if they are 
thinking about returning to California because the earth literally 
shook. I have told them many times that although it occurs periodically 
on the east coast, literally, hurricanes and tornados occur everywhere. 
There are difficulties that you have to put up with wherever you live. 
California, unfortunately, on the rim of fire, is periodically 
subjected to these earthquakes.
  This one was a difficult one for all of us. My colleagues in the 
area, Mrs. Capps and others responded fairly quickly. I do want to put 
on the record how magnificently the local elected officials responded, 
setting up emergency teams, keeping lines of communication open. And I 
want to compliment the Federal Government in its quick response in 
providing grants and loans to those who were clearly depressed and 
destroyed and were given the opportunity very quickly to rebuild.
  The spring has come, the rains have come, the grass is green, but the 
psyche shattering earthquake of last December is still present in 
downtown areas and in the surrounding communities. And the scar on the 
earth will be there for a long time.
  I thank the chairman for the quick response and especially for the 
Nation's taxpayers in responding in the hour of need in San Luis 
Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero and the surrounding community. I thank 
the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 519, 
a resolution honoring the victims of the December 22, 2003, San Simeon 
earthquake and paying tribute to the law enforcement, emergency 
personnel, and many local leaders who provided assistance to citizens 
throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
  I thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for 
introducing this resolution and for bringing it to the floor of the 
House today. It has been a privilege for me to work with him to help 
get the central coast back on its feet again.
  Mr. Speaker, earthquakes impact all segments of the communities they 
strike: Individuals, businesses, and public services such as police, 
fire, hospitals, and schools. In the days following this earthquake I 
was very moved by the devastation in San Luis Obispo County and in 
northern Santa Barbara County. The earthquake registered 6.5 on the 
Richter Scale and was felt from San Francisco all the way to Los 
Angeles. I know what it was like to feel it strongly in my fourth

[[Page H883]]

floor congressional office building as I was meeting with constituents 
at that very hour.
  Even though the earthquake lasted only seconds, it left behind 
destruction that will take months, if not years, to repair and rebuild. 
The greatest tragedy, of course, is that time will not undue the loss 
of life of two people caused by this earthquake. Two women perished 
when a clock tower collapsed in Paso Robles. Our thoughts and prayers 
continue to go out to the friends and families of these victims.
  More than 50 people were injured as a result of the earthquake. There 
was extensive damage to residential properties, to historical and 
public buildings, and to public utility structures. I have received 
numerous calls and letters from constituents who have suffered major 
losses to their businesses.
  Total costs and damages to the counties of San Luis Obispo and Santa 
Barbara are expected to exceed $300 million with reports of more damage 
coming in daily.
  Mr. Speaker, residents and local authorities are continuing to 
rebuild their lives after this earthquake. I was pleased the President 
heeded calls from Governor Schwarzenegger, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas), and me and declared San Luis Obispo and Santa 
Barbara Counties Federal disaster areas as a result of the December 22 
earthquake. Federal funding and loan assistance is essential to help 
businesses and individuals rebuild their lives and get their lives back 
on track following this, such a devastating earthquake.
  However, I remain disappointed that the Governor's request that Santa 
Barbara County's Federal disaster area declaration does not include 
individual assistance programs. It only limits the support from the 
Federal Government to the businesses involved.
  In northern Santa Barbara County, especially in the cities of Santa 
Maria and Guadalupe, homeowners are still suffering from the impact of 
this earthquake and its after shocks. Updated damage assessments have 
revealed that northern Santa Barbara County residents suffered much 
more loss than was originally estimated.
  My office will continue to work with all businesses and all families 
affected by the earthquake to ensure that they have access to loans and 
other assistance that could help them recover as quickly as possible. 
Work has already begun to make sure that the hundreds of Federal 
historic properties are preserved and retrofitted to provide safe and 
accessible work in public spaces.
  This is a critical component of creating communities where our 
families and businesses are safe, healthy, and that the economy is 
secure. State and Federal agencies, including the Governor's Office of 
Emergency Services, FEMA and the Small Business Administration all have 
been working closely with local officials to give them all the support 
that they need. And I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to them as 
well as to the first responders, to the rescue workers and to all of 
the volunteers, so many of them, everyone who took great risk to 
themselves to search the wreckage for their fellow citizens. They did 
an extraordinary job.
  I also want to commend the city, the county, and State workers and 
utility crews who worked around the clock to restore power, water, and 
other important services to our communities. Critical functions such as 
emergency centers, fire stations, police stations and hospitals were 
functioning right after the earthquake.
  We do not want to think about what would happen in such an event, but 
when it does, we are all heartened by the way that people pull together 
and work together from every level, particularly the volunteers who 
leave whatever they were doing aside and step right up to the plate. 
They cannot do it without the assistance of local, State, and Federal 
support.
  The San Simeon earthquake was a shocking reminder to people who live 
just about anywhere in California that we are prone to earthquakes and 
should do whatever we can to prepare. Preparing for an earthquake can 
be as simple as making an earthquake preparedness kit with first aid 
supplies, extra food and water, and clothing. I encourage all 
Californians to take this step. This may be a lifesaver in the next 
quake.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said, people on the Central Coast are returning to 
their lives as they once knew them before the earthquake. The 
earthquake may have shaken our foundations, but it, once again, proves 
the strength of our communities and our unshakable resolve to help each 
other out during times of tragedy. I urge immediate adoption of this 
resolution to pay tribute to the lives we lost that day and to honor 
all of those who stepped in, stepped up to the plate, to help their 
neighbors to get through such a difficult time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 519.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that, I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________