[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4649-H4651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1388) 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. 1388
Whereas the Atlantic and central Pacific hurricane season
begins June 1, 2010, and ends November 30, 2010, and the
eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15, 2010,
through November 30, 2010;
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 2009 Atlantic hurricane season included 9 named
storms, including 3 hurricanes, 2 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 infant, 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 23 through 29, 2010: 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
Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
General Leave
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H. Res. 1388, the resolution now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on June 1, hurricane season began in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hurricane forecasters have predicted an above-average year for tropical
storms and hurricanes for 2010. As we enter hurricane season, it is
therefore very timely to consider this resolution recognizing the
importance of hurricane preparedness.
Hurricanes are among the most powerful forces of nature we
experience. As the tragedies from past storms have taught us, it is
vitally important that Federal, State, and local governments work
together to better prepare the coastal communities for these powerful
storms to minimize the loss of life and costly physical damage. Part of
this effort is educating the public about hurricanes and hurricane
preparedness. The National Hurricane Center at NOAA is a critical
resource in this effort. In addition to providing us with the hurricane
forecasting information that coastal communities all rely on, the
National Hurricane Center also focuses considerable effort in educating
coastal communities about hurricane preparedness. This includes
recommendations from what supplies to have handy if you live in a
hurricane-prone region to encouraging people to craft personal
evacuation plans in the event of a storm. These seemingly small steps
can make an enormous difference in saving lives.
We don't have any hurricanes in my home State of Missouri, but these
same lessons of preparedness for deadly weather can be seen in the
Midwest. Living in ``Tornado Alley,'' we know all too well the
consequences of not being prepared for action when the tornado warnings
go off. Unfortunately, all too often the results from being unprepared
is a loss of life.
It really is hard to understate the importance of adequate
preparation and preparedness in these regions of our country that are
susceptible to dangerous weather. I want to thank my friend from
Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart) for introducing this important
resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
[[Page H4650]]
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1388, supporting the
goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
Every year, our coastal areas face the threat of hurricanes and
tropical storms. These storms feature high wind speeds, heavy rains,
and storm surges which can cause flooding and coastal erosion. With
millions of Americans living within 50 miles of a vulnerable shoreline,
these factors, unfortunately, can also cause loss of human life and
substantial property destruction.
Over the last several decades, the increasing population density
along the Nation's coastlines has contributed to the rising cost of
recovering from hurricane damage. Thus, it is critical governments
prepare for evacuation, ensure emergency supplies are readily
available, and require adequate safety standards for infrastructure and
buildings.
Each year since 1998, the National Weather Service has issued a
seasonal outlook forecasting the number of storms likely to arise
during the hurricane season, June 1 through November 30. This year, the
National Weather Service is projecting between eight and 14 hurricanes.
Storms with sustained wind speeds of 74 miles per hour or greater will
form in the Atlantic basin, and between three and seven of these storms
could be major hurricanes with wind speeds of at least 111 miles per
hour.
Although not all storms will make landfall, a greater number of
possible storms this season indicates landfall is more likely. This
resolution encourages people to utilize the knowledge gained from past
disasters, to learn about the potential risk of being caught in a
hurricane, and how to prepare for the associated hazards.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1388.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs.
Biggert).
Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding and I rise today in
support of the resolution, but I really wanted to support the previous
resolution, but I was in a conference.
As the co-chair of the High-Performance Buildings Caucus, I am
delighted to join my colleague and caucus co-chair, Congressman Russ
Carnahan, to recognize June 13 through June 19 as High-Performance
Building Week, House Resolution 1407.
Last week's celebration was marked by numerous events, including Hill
briefings and offsite green infrastructure tours, and I would like to
thank the National Institute for Building Sciences, the American
Society for Landscape Architects, and the National Institute for
Standards and Technology for organizing these tours throughout last
week.
Congressman Carnahan and I first formed the High-Performance
Buildings Caucus in 2008 to heighten awareness and inform policymakers
about the major impact buildings have on our health, safety, and
environment. Through monthly briefings, we explore the opportunities to
design, construct, and operate high-performance buildings that reflect
our concern for these impacts. In fact, since we first started this
caucus, we've had almost 25 briefings on everything from lighting
technology and building modeling to smart-grid facilities management
and green job creation.
Understanding how every element of a building affects us--and our
energy bill--is important. Buildings consume 40 percent of the energy
used in the U.S. while emitting 39 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide
emissions. Perhaps a more surprising statistic is that Americans spend,
on average, 90 percent of their time indoors. With this in mind, new
building construction and sustainability of our current building
inventory is more important now than ever.
Consider two statistics from the U.S. Green Building Council:
Students with optimum daylight in the classroom performed 20 percent
faster on math tests and 26 percent faster on reading tests in 1 year
than those with less daylight. Improvements with indoor environments
are estimated to save $17 billion to $48 billion in total health gains
and $20 billion to $160 billion in worker performance.
Most importantly, a 2009 McKinsey study on energy efficiency
demonstrates the potential for the residential building sector to
reduce its energy consumption by 35 percent over the next 10 years, and
40 percent in the industrial sector. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, it
is important that we maintain our commitment to and awareness of high-
performance buildings and the benefits they offer society.
We could not honor the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building
Week without thanking those groups that have helped us over the last 2
years. Dozens of building and standard organizations make up the High-
Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition. I know I speak
for myself and my fellow caucus co-chair when I say thank you for your
help educating, researching, and advancing the goal of high-performance
buildings.
Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House
Resolution 1388, to support the goals and ideals of National Hurricane
Preparedness Week. This important resolution urges the people of the
United States to recognize this 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.
I would like to acknowledge Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer
for their leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor. I would
also like to thank my colleague Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who
authored this timely resolution.
As Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency
Communications, Preparedness, and Response, emergency preparedness for
all types of natural disasters, such as flash floods in natural parks
or wildfires in southern California, is an important issue to me. I
will soon be introducing legislation that emphasizes the importance and
need for effective and reliable alert systems when these national
disasters occur.
In an average 3-year period, roughly 5 hurricanes strike the
coastlines of the United States. The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season
included 9 named storms, including 3 hurricanes, 2 of which were
category 3 or higher. Because damage from a hurricane can be
substantial, 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. When a hurricane threatens the United States, people in potential
flood zones must 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, and develop a flood emergency action plan.
H. Res. 1388 encourages the staff of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, especially the National Weather Service and
the National Hurricane Center, to continue their outstanding work of
educating people in the United States about hurricane preparedness. In
conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation to promote
increased safety measures during hurricane season.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res.
1388.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res.
1330, a resolution that supports the goals and ideals of National
Hurricane Preparedness Week. I also want to thank my colleague, the
honorable Mario Diaz-Balart, for introducing this important resolution.
My district is in the wake of many hurricanes that make their way
into the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season has a profound impact on our
way of life in the Gulf. For example, our latest hurricane, Hurricane
Ike, wreaked havoc on Texas, particularly in Galveston and Houston. As
we moved forward with recovery efforts, it was clear that the impact of
this storm has been widespread and many people are still in need of
assistance. Lost in the discussion of Sunday's World Refugee Day was
the group of internally displaced individuals from Ike, Rita, and
especially Katrina.
Unfortunately, Texans are still in need of help, especially the
neglected residents of North Galveston. Let us use this time to examine
how FEMA and HUD are responding to citizens so that we can continue to
provide the aid people desperately need to fully recover from this
storm.
I continue working to ensure that Hurricane Ike victims still have
access to recovery resources and call for expeditious action, urging a
better response and expedited assistance from FEMA, HUD, and local
officials. I also call on housing associations to re-open access to
housing for Hurricane Ike victims.
Just as we saw in the 9th ward of New Orleans, Louisiana Post-
Hurricane Katrina, people in North Galveston have not received the
[[Page H4651]]
proper access to government aid to rebuild and recover. In fact, there
is still much more rebuilding and desperate need of housing that needs
to be done to restore North Galveston and assist the residents who
remain there.
We cannot allow the hurricane victims to be forgotten. Throughout the
Post-Hurricane Ike recovery efforts, many individuals have had
difficulties and challenges getting the government aid that they need
to rebuild after the storm. Many have lost their jobs or are at risk of
losing their employment due to damages incurred by the hurricane,
including the more than 2,400 employees of the University of Texas
Medical Branch, UTMB, who were recently terminated. We must protect our
citizens and their means of living as we continue to recover from this
storm.
There are men, women, and children who have lost so much due to flood
waters and storm winds. I have been proud to stand up repeatedly in
Congress to fight on their behalf by securing the necessary Federal
funds. We must work together to ensure that our Nation does its part to
help Hurricane Ike victims fully recover by ensuring the delivery of
these funds that we worked so hard to appropriate. As a senior Member
of the House Homeland Security Committee, which has oversight over the
Federal Emergency Management Administration, FEMA, I am working to
ensure that our communities respond expeditiously to natural disasters.
The protection of our homeland and the security of our neighborhoods
are at the forefront of my agenda.
For the foregoing reasons I stand in support of making this
legislation.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I just want to add again my thanks to the
gentlelady from Illinois for her leadership on the High-Performance
Buildings Caucus and for being here to speak on behalf of the prior
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1388.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________