[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 123 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OKEECHOBEE HURRICANE

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2008

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution memorializing the 80th anniversary of the Okeechobee 
Hurricane and the tragic losses of life from the catastrophic event. 
The experience of the Okeechobee Hurricane touches the lives of so many 
of my constituents and those throughout the Florida delegation, as well 
as my colleagues representing territories throughout the Caribbean.
  This September marks 80 years since the Okeechobee Hurricane, also 
known as Hurricane San Felipe Segundo, ravaged Florida, Puerto Rico, 
the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and numerous islands of the Caribbean. 
At this point in 1928, a number of factors contributed to this 
hurricane having the second largest death toll in United States history 
ever recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Tragically, over 4,000 lives were lost along the path of the Okeechobee 
Hurricane.
  Madam Speaker, Floridians living near Lake Okeechobee in communities 
that I now represent experienced a devastating loss of life when the 
hurricane led to extensive breaches of the levees surrounding the lake. 
Of the more than 3,000 casualties in the continental United States, 
more than 75 percent were migrant workers near Lake Okeechobee who were 
overwhelmingly African American. The lack of capacity to respond to the 
devastation of the storm and racial overtures of the era led to 
extensive disparities in the treatment of victims of this hurricane. 
Many African Americans were buried in poorly marked mass graves, 
including one site in West Palm Beach where over 670 unfortunate souls 
were laid to rest. Similar graves for white victims of the tragedy were 
visibly memorialized, whereas many African American graves were 
forgotten and only recognized many years later. When considering the 
development of a community, neglecting these darker moments of our 
history can overlook important lessons, as we saw with the devastation 
of Hurricane Katrina. Beyond recognition for all victims of the 
Okeechobee Hurricane tragedy, their loss should inform us how to 
prevent future injustices in disaster response and mitigation.
  The potential for devastation due to failing infrastructure following 
similar natural disasters exists in many places throughout our nation. 
Thus, it is absolutely vital that we learn from the past and invest in 
strengthening our vulnerable water management infrastructure to prevent 
future tragic losses. We must also prioritize initiatives to educate 
migrant workers, economically disadvantaged communities, and others who 
may be disproportionately impacted by hurricanes and other natural 
disasters.
  Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me memorializing the 
tragic loss of the Okeechobee Hurricane and reaffirming our commitment 
to protecting all inhabitants of the United States from the devastation 
of hurricanes. This resolution is the first step to encouraging our 
respective localities to prioritize natural disaster preparedness and 
education economically disadvantaged communities. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues toward its expeditious passage.

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