[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  H.R. 5450, NOAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to 
reauthorize NOAA and call on the agency to work to develop an inland 
warning system. Six years ago I held a Hurricane Summit in the Second 
District of North Carolina. This was in response to the devastation 
that was brought to my State by Hurricane Floyd. Hurricane Floyd was 
one of the most devastating storms to hit the United States in more 
than 25 years. When Hurricane Floyd roared ashore in North Carolina in 
September of 1999, the storm took at least 56 lives, and left damages 
upwards of $6 billion from the Carolinas to New England.
  Although the National Weather Service uses the Saffir-Simpson Scale 
to classify hurricane strength according to wind speed, Hurricane Floyd 
showed us that much more damage, death, and destruction can be created 
by unexpected inland flooding. One year ago this fact was displayed 
again with disastrous intensity during Hurricane Katrina when the 
damage was not just limited to the immediate coastal areas of the gulf 
coast. After the storms there were inland areas in Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Alabama that were inaccessible for weeks following the 
severe flooding.
  The purpose of my Hurricane Summit was to bring together 
meteorological experts from universities, the National Hurricane 
Center, and the National Weather Service to develop a more accurate 
index for inland flood monitoring. With the information gathered at 
this summit, I drafted legislation to ensure that NOAA and the National 
Weather Service make significant improvements to their inland flood 
warning system. H.R. 2486, the Inland Flood Forecasting and Warning 
System Act of 2002, was passed in the 107th Congress and enjoyed wide 
bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation directed NOAA and the National Weather 
Service to improve the capability to forecast inland flooding 
associated with tropical storms and hurricanes, to develop a 
distinctive inland flood warning index for emergency management 
officials, and to train emergency management officials, National 
Weather Service personnel, and meteorologists to use these improved 
forecasting techniques for inland flooding.
  An important part of this legislation requires the National Weather 
Service and NOAA to report annually to Congress on the progress of this 
new flood index. I would like to continue to work with the members of 
the Science Committee and the Appropriations Committee to ensure that 
NOAA provides these reports to the Congress in a timely manner.
  Congress must provide the proper oversight to NOAA to ensure that the 
progress in developing an improved inland flooding index can be put in 
place to save lives.

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