[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14777-S14778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WASHINGTON STATE FLOODS

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from New Jersey for 
allowing me to speak before he does. I wish to speak today because, as 
we all know, in the last several days, the Pacific Northwest has been 
hit by devastating storms. We have seen wind and dangerous floods and 
mud slides that have cut off our roads, our homes, cut off power to 
literally thousands in my State.
  Today, the pouring rain thankfully has subsided a bit, but thousands 
of people are coping with the damage in my State, in my region. We will 
not know the full impact of this storm for some time, but our Governor 
has already estimated that the cost is going to be in the billions of 
dollars.
  My heart goes out to everyone in my home State of Washington and in 
Oregon who are coping with the aftermath of this tremendous storm. 
Those people are in my thoughts constantly. I am working with all of 
our State, local, and Federal entities to be sure everyone gets all the 
service and support they need at this critical time.
  I especially thank and mention our Governor, Governor Gregoire of 
Washington State. She has been very strong in her leadership throughout 
this disaster and has been working tirelessly to coordinate the rescue 
efforts.
  I especially today send a very heartfelt thanks to all of our rescue 
workers. They have been working out in these torrential rains, night 
and day, rescuing people from flooded homes and vehicles. They have 
been flying in supplies to people who are stranded. They have been 
working very hard to clear roads and railways that are still tonight 
swamped.
  So far, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, and all of our

[[Page S14778]]

agencies have rescued about 300 people by helicopter alone. This is our 
State's largest aerial search-and-rescue operation in over a decade.
  Let me paint a picture for all my colleagues of the damage that has 
occurred so far.
  Parts of southwest Washington now look like a sea of brown water. 
Homes are flooded up to their roofs. Entire communities have been 
isolated by swamped roads. Out on our coast, winds of up to 100 miles 
an hour have knocked out power to literally thousands of homes. People 
feel very isolated today. They don't have power, they don't have 
telephones, and, in some areas, it is very tough to even assess how bad 
the damage is yet because we cannot even get to these people who do not 
have power or telephones.
  I know a lot of relatives in the region and across the country are 
desperately trying this evening to reach their loved ones who have been 
affected, and our office, along with Governor Gregoire, Senator 
Cantwell, and others, is doing everything we can to help.
  Finally, I wish to mention one of the hardest hit areas, and that is 
Interstate 5. This is the major artery that links Portland, OR, and 
Seattle, WA. That highway has been closed since Monday, and some are 
saying it is going to be several more days before we even get it open. 
This has forced cars and trucks that are traveling from Seattle to 
Portland or Portland to Seattle to detour through the Tri-Cities. For 
those who don't know my State, that means they have to go over a 
mountain pass that is snow packed right now, take 4 extra hours, if the 
roads are good and the snow and ice has not stopped them on the pass 
used to get to Portland. So this is a major nightmare in our area.

  It is very hard to explain the impact of all this damage, but 
estimates of cost to businesses from delays on that highway alone have 
been placed at $4 million a day to our businesses that rely on this 
major artery to get their goods quickly and safely back and forth.
  As I said in a speech earlier today on the floor, the impact of these 
storms reinforces how important our transportation infrastructure is to 
absolutely everyone. We are all one rainstorm, one bridge disaster away 
from huge impacts to our economy and to families' lives.
  Again, I wished to come to the floor this evening to send my 
heartfelt thanks to everyone who is working so hard in my State of 
Washington and to all those people who have been affected so 
devastatingly by these storms. They are all in my thoughts every 
minute. My heart goes out to them, and I know everyone stands ready to 
be by their side.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.

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