[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMENDING THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you as a citizen 
of a state that has been devastated by four major hurricanes in the 
past several weeks. For the first time in a century, four hurricanes, 
Charley, Ivan, Frances and Jeanne, hit Florida, within one month. My 
district, in particular has been forced to deal with the most 
horrendous effects of these vicious natural disasters. As the 
devastation from these Hurricanes struck my state, district, and 
constituents, the service and resolve of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proved to be outstanding. On behalf 
of all my constituents, I would like to commend the dedicated service 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its 
employees.
  The citizens of Florida would not have been able to withstand the 
disastrous effects of these hurricanes if it were not for the fortitude 
and service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA). They've never hesitated to fly into the eye of a hurricane to 
gather information about possible landfall, and NOAA was one of the 
primary agencies that my office dealt with in seeking information and 
expert advice to combat the dangerous situation my constituents were 
placed in because of these storms. When people needed to be warned of 
these storms, NOAA was there to respond. NOAH and its employees are a 
tremendous service to my office and constituents.
  In this time of crisis, NOAA's National Hurricane Center provided 496 
live television interviews and 567 telephone briefings to the media. 
The information contained in these briefings was relayed to millions of 
Floridians, allowing for the safe evacuation of more than 4 million 
Florida residents during Hurricane Frances alone. All together, more 
than 1,000 hurricane watches, warnings, and advisories were issued 
during Hurricanes Charley, Ivan, Frances and Jeanne. NOAA provided 
updated satellite images of all four Hurricanes every five minutes over 
the days leading to their landfall.
  For more than 30 years, NOAA, has been working for America every day. 
Their knowledge, data gathering, and service have saved the lives of so 
many. From providing timely and precise weather, water and climate 
forecasts to monitoring the environment and making our nation more 
competitive through safe navigation and examining changes in the 
oceans, NOAA is on the front lines in the service of our great country.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the service of such a valued 
Federal institution such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.

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