[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 641--OBSERVING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE ON 
   WHICH HURRICANE RITA DEVASTATED THE COASTS OF LOUISIANA AND TEXAS

  Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Cornyn, and Mrs. 
Hutchison) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 641

       Whereas on September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita made landfall 
     as a Category 3 hurricane just east of the Texas-Louisiana 
     border, between Sabine Pass and Johnson's Bayou, with wind 
     speeds of 120 miles per hour, and further devastated the Gulf 
     Coast, which had already been hit by Hurricane Katrina;
       Whereas Hurricane Rita caused 7 deaths, forced 3,000,000 
     residents to evacuate their homes, caused flooding and 
     tornadoes in the States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, 
     and Alabama, and, according to the National Climatic Data 
     Center, left 1,000,000 people without electricity;
       Whereas damages from Hurricane Rita are estimated at 
     $11,300,000,000;
       Whereas in 2005, Hurricane Rita was the second hurricane to 
     reach Category 5 status in the Gulf of Mexico, which, 
     according to the National Climatic Data Center, is only the 
     third time that more than one Category 5 storm has formed in 
     the Atlantic in the same year;
       Whereas the storm surge from Hurricane Rita was as high as 
     15 feet near the landfall site and, according to the United 
     States Geological Survey, traveled as far as 50 miles inland, 
     causing disastrous flooding and massive loss of property;
       Whereas tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the 
     States of Louisiana and Texas were destroyed by the flooding; 
     and
       Whereas the National Wetlands Center of the United States 
     Geological Survey indicates that 217 square miles of the 
     coastal land of the State of Louisiana were transformed to 
     water after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) observes the 5th anniversary of the date on which 
     Hurricane Rita devastated the coasts of the States of 
     Louisiana and Texas;
       (2) expresses the support of the Senate to the survivors of 
     Hurricane Rita and the condolences of the Senate to the 
     families of the victims of Hurricane Rita;
       (3) commends the courageous efforts of those who assisted 
     in the response to the storm and the recovery process;
       (4) recognizes the contributions the affected communities 
     in the States of Louisiana and Texas have made to the United 
     States; and
       (5) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to rebuild, 
     renew, and restore the Gulf Coast region.

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