[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5413-H5414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORTING NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 387) supporting the goals and 
ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 387

       Whereas the Atlantic and central Pacific hurricane season 
     begins June 1, 2009, and ends November 30, 2009, and the 
     eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15, 2009, 
     through November 30, 2009;
       Whereas an average of 11 tropical storms develop per year 
     over the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of 
     Mexico, and an average of 6 of these storms become 
     hurricanes;
       Whereas in an average 3-year period, roughly 5 hurricanes 
     strike the coastlines of the United States, sometimes 
     resulting in multiple deaths, and 2 of these hurricanes are 
     typically labeled ``major'' or ``intense'' category 3 
     hurricanes, as measured on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane 
     Scale;
       Whereas millions of Americans face great risks from 
     tropical storms and hurricanes, as 50 percent of Americans 
     live along the coast and millions of tourists visit the 
     oceans each year;
       Whereas the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season included 16 
     named storms, including 8 hurricanes, 5 of which were 
     category 3 or higher;
       Whereas during a hurricane, homes, businesses, public 
     buildings, and infrastructure may be damaged or destroyed by 
     heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge;
       Whereas damage from a hurricane is usually substantial, as 
     debris can break windows and doors, roads and bridges can be 
     washed away, homes can be flooded, and destructive tornadoes 
     can occur well away from the storm's center;
       Whereas experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration's National Hurricane Center and the National 
     Weather Service agree that it is critical for all people to 
     know if they live in an area prone to hurricanes, to figure 
     out their home's vulnerability in the event of a storm surge, 
     flooding, and heavy winds, and to develop a written family 
     disaster plan based on this knowledge;
       Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
     people in areas prone to hurricanes prepare a personal 
     evacuation plan that identifies ahead of time several options 
     of places to go in the event of evacuation, the telephone 
     numbers of these places, and a local road map;
       Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
     people in areas prone to hurricanes prepare a disaster supply 
     kit before hurricane season begins that includes a first aid 
     kit with essential medications, canned food, a can opener, at 
     least 3 gallons of water per person per day for 3 to 7 days, 
     protective clothing, rain gear, bedding or sleeping bags, a 
     battery-powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, special 
     items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members, and 
     written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and 
     water in the event authorities advise these actions;
       Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
     citizens know that a ``hurricane watch'' means conditions are 
     possible in the specified area, usually within 36 hours, and 
     a ``hurricane warning'' means hurricane conditions are 
     expected in the specified area, usually within 24 hours;
       Whereas in the event of a hurricane warning, the National 
     Hurricane Center recommends people listen to the advice of 
     local officials, evacuate if told to do so, complete 
     preparedness activities, stay indoors and away from windows, 
     be alert for tornadoes, and be aware that the calm ``eye'' of 
     the storm does not mean the storm is over;
       Whereas in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, inland flooding was 
     responsible for more than half the deaths associated with 
     tropical storms and hurricanes in the United States;
       Whereas the National Weather Service recommends that when a 
     hurricane threatens the United States, people in potential 
     flood zones evacuate if told to do so, keep abreast of road 
     conditions through the news media, move to a safe area before 
     access is cut off by flood water, develop a flood emergency 
     action plan, and do not attempt to cross flowing water in an 
     automobile, because as little as 6 inches of water may cause 
     one to lose control of the vehicle;
       Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
     provides more detailed information about hurricanes and 
     hurricane preparedness via its website, http://
www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/; and
       Whereas National Hurricane Preparedness Week will be the 
     week of May 24 through 30, 2009: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Hurricane 
     Preparedness Week;
       (2) encourages the staff of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration, especially the National Weather 
     Service and the National Hurricane Center, and other 
     appropriate Federal agencies, to continue their outstanding 
     work of educating people in the United States about hurricane 
     preparedness; and
       (3) urges the people of the United States to recognize such 
     a week as an opportunity to learn more about the work of the 
     National Hurricane Center in forecasting hurricanes and 
     educating citizens about the potential risks of the storms.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 387, the resolution now 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on June 1, hurricane season begins in the Atlantic 
Ocean. Noted hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University have 
predicted an above-average year for tropical storms and hurricanes for 
2009. It is, therefore, very timely to consider this resolution 
recognizing the importance of Hurricane Preparedness Week. As the 
tragedy of Katrina in 2005 showed us, it is not just the strength of 
the storm that determines the destruction on the ground. Just as 
important is the preparedness of the communities that are impacted.
  Katrina took almost 1,500 lives and caused damages totaling $81 
billion. It was the one of the costliest natural disasters in the 
Nation's history. However, Katrina, a category 3 storm at landfall, was 
not an especially powerful storm. In fact, there were three other 
category 3 storms that struck the U.S. in 2005, but none of them caused 
the same level of damage and destruction.
  This is a sobering lesson in the importance of hurricane 
preparedness. It is vitally important that Federal, State and local 
governments work together to better prepare the coastal

[[Page H5414]]

communities for these powerful storms. And I want to thank my friend 
from Florida who has firsthand knowledge of these problems, Mr. Diaz-
Balart, for introducing this important resolution.
  I urge my colleagues to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as 
much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, before I talk about this issue, I would like to thank 
Chairman Gordon, once again, and also Ranking Member Hall and also 
their staffs for allowing this timely resolution to move forward so 
quickly. As the chairman has just said, the time is right for this 
resolution once again.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 387, which is to support 
the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week as 
established by the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Preparedness 
Week begins on the 24th of May and lasts through the 30th of May of 
2009. Now, in less than 2 weeks, Madam Speaker, on the 1st of June, 
unfortunately, we mark the beginning of yet another hurricane season in 
the Atlantic and central Pacific Oceans. Hurricane season lasts a long, 
long 6 months until November 30.
  The goal of Hurricane Preparedness Week is to inform the public about 
hurricanes, their hazards, and to provide knowledge that, frankly, we 
can use and that hopefully all of us can use to take action now, to be 
ready now before the hurricanes hit. We must be ready. This information 
can be used to save property and, most importantly, it can be used to 
save lives. As the chairman himself said, we have too often seen what 
these storms can do.
  Now, although the Federal Government plays a critical role before and 
after a storm, we have to do our part. We have to be ready ourselves. 
And it is the hope that the residents, particularly in areas that are 
hurricane prone, will prepare themselves and their families for this 
before this hurricane season starts.
  History teaches us that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation 
are, unfortunately, common threads among all hurricanes and major 
disasters. For instance, one of the biggest lessons learned from the 
recent wave of hurricanes is that the residents need to have enough 
supplies to take care of themselves and their families for at least 3 
days after one of these storms makes landfall. Oftentimes, local 
governments are trying to keep order. They are trying to take care of 
really basic essentials right after a storm, so, therefore, it is 
important that each and every one of us have a plan, that we prepare 
and that we can be self-sufficient for those 3 days. Again, millions of 
Americans face great risk from tropical storms and hurricanes. More 
than 50 percent of all Americans live along the coast, which again just 
shows you how grave that risk can be.
  Now, the statistics associated with hurricanes are staggering. An 
average of 11 tropical storms develop each year over the Atlantic Ocean 
or the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico. Six of these storms will, 
unfortunately, become hurricanes. Now, look, we just hope that they 
don't make landfall, and they can just slide by, and we can just kiss 
them goodbye. But we can't be sure that will happen, so we have to be 
ready.
  Last year, unfortunately, several storms made landfall along the 
eastern and gulf coast, including Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricanes 
Gustav, Hanna and Ike. And as we have learned in the past few years, 
hurricanes pose, again, a serious, serious threat to our country. These 
massive storms can result in casualties and millions of dollars or, 
frankly, billions of dollars in economic damage and destruction.
  During a hurricane, homes and businesses and other buildings can be 
damaged by heavy rain, by strong winds and by storm surge, which is one 
of the worst problems and a real killer. Tornadoes can strike after 
these storms or during the storms, and oftentimes power can be wiped 
out for days, if not weeks.
  Experts at the NOAA's National Hurricane Center agree that there are 
some critical things that have to be done. Obviously, first, is to 
determine if you live in a hurricane-prone area, then know your home's 
vulnerabilities to either storm surge or flooding or wind and develop a 
written, a real family disaster plan based on this knowledge. And make 
sure that everybody in the family knows how to make that plan work and 
knows about it.
  Once you determine, again, how vulnerable you really are to a 
hurricane, the National Hurricane Center recommends that people in 
hurricane-prone areas assemble a disaster supply kit before the 
hurricane season, not before a storm comes, but now before the 
hurricane season is even upon us; a first aid kit and essential 
medications, nonperishable food items such as canned goods, at least 3 
gallons of water per person per day, again for at least 3 to 7 days, at 
least 3 days, preferably more; obviously, a battery-powered radio, a 
flashlight, extra batteries, special items including medications if you 
need them for infants, for the elderly or for disabled family members, 
and also making sure that you take care of pets, as well.
  As we have learned in south Florida, the forecasters, the 
meteorologists and the hurricane specialists at National Hurricane 
Center who become, frankly, every year, heroes to all of us who are in 
hurricane-prone areas are often the source of the most valuable 
information on hurricane preparedness. They spend countless hours and 
days providing valuable information and warnings to all those Americans 
located in a potential path of a hurricane. Millions of Americans have 
come to rely on their steady advice and counsel, on their skill, and we 
thank them for their vital services.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Americans living in hurricane-prone areas 
to use this Hurricane Preparedness Week as an opportunity to learn more 
about the approaching hurricane season, to prepare before--before, I 
repeat--a storm threatens.
  Once again, I need to thank the chairman for allowing this resolution 
to come here quickly, timely. It is important, and I want to thank him 
for his cooperation, as well as the ranking member and both staffs.
  And with that, I do not think I have another speaker. I yield back 
the remaining part of my time.
  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to 
again thank Mr. Diaz-Balart for introducing this legislation. He 
understands this in a very personal way. This resolution can help save 
lives.
  I urge adoption of the resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 387.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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