[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 286--EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE 
  INDIVIDUALS KILLED DURING UNUSUAL STORMS AND FLOODS IN THE STATE OF 
  GEORGIA BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 18 AND SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, AND EXPRESSING 
 GRATITUDE TO ALL OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
   UNYIELDING DETERMINATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF GEORGIA'S RESIDENTS

  Mr. ISAKSON (for himself and Mr. Chambliss) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 286

       Whereas beginning on September 18, 2009, the State of 
     Georgia was hit by days of unusually strong storms that 
     resulted in downpours and flooding;
       Whereas numerous Georgia rivers and creeks, including the 
     Chattooga and Chattahoochee Rivers and the Chickamauga Creek, 
     swollen by days of rain, overtopped their banks, creating a 
     dangerous and deadly situation for nearby residents;
       Whereas the storms and floods took human lives;
       Whereas the floodwater destroyed homes, flooded roadways, 
     including major highways, compromised drinking water, 
     severely damaged plumbing systems, and caused significant 
     damage to homes and businesses;
       Whereas on September 21, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny 
     Perdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties, 
     including Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, 
     Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, 
     Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens, and Walker Counties;
       Whereas the National Weather Service estimated that between 
     15 and 22 inches of rain fell in the metropolitan Atlanta 
     counties of Gwinnett, Douglas, and Paulding between September 
     18 and September 21, 2009;
       Whereas the rains broke a 130-year-old record at 
     Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport;
       Whereas hundreds of Georgians were evacuated from their 
     homes, and more than 300 people sought refuge in shelters;
       Whereas Governor Perdue estimated that more than 1,000 
     residences were seriously flooded;
       Whereas the weather closed schools in several counties;
       Whereas as many as tens of thousands of people were without 
     power in metropolitan Atlanta;
       Whereas search and rescue operations functioned in several 
     counties where the water continued to rise;
       Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency coordinated 
     with local emergency personnel and worked tirelessly to 
     protect human lives and rescue those threatened by the 
     floods;
       Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency facilitated 
     requests for assistance from people and first responders all 
     across the State of Georgia;
       Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and other 
     first responders acted valiantly in life-safety response 
     operations, including delivering sandbags and rescuing people 
     trapped in their cars and homes from the floodwater;
       Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency activated 
     its national and regional response coordination centers and 
     worked closely with the State of Georgia to monitor the 
     response efforts and identify and respond to any immediate 
     emergency needs for the people and communities of the State 
     that were impacted by the devastating floods; and
       Whereas volunteers gave their time to help ensure that 
     evacuees were sheltered, clothed, fed, and comforted through 
     this traumatic event: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to the 
     families of those who lost their lives in the flooding in the 
     State of Georgia;
       (2) expresses its condolences to the families who lost 
     their homes and other property in the floods;
       (3) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the people of 
     the State of Georgia and the surrounding States, who worked 
     to protect people from the rising floodwaters;
       (4) expresses its support as the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency responds to the needs of the people and 
     communities affected by the flooding; and
       (5) honors the emergency responders, within and beyond 
     metropolitan Atlanta and the State of Georgia, for their 
     bravery and sacrifice during this tragedy.

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