[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 80 (Monday, June 6, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Tennessee Tornadoes

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, on Wednesday I traveled to Greene and 
Washington Counties in Upper East Tennessee--up near Virginia and North 
Carolina--to visit with the victims of tornadoes that swept across our 
State on April 27 and to see firsthand how the recovery is going.
  What I found was what I expected to find. In Washington County and 
Greene County, the citizens are not complaining. They are cleaning up, 
and they are helping each other. I also found out there are some things 
that still need to be ironed out, but so far the recovery from a 
devastating disaster is going well in East Tennessee. The real work is 
being done by people affected by those storms and by volunteers, and I 
think it says that Tennesseans are doing what Tennesseans usually do.
  I first met with Alan Broyles, who is the mayor of Greene County, and 
Bill Brown, who is director of Greene County's Emergency Management and 
Homeland Security Agency. Seven people lost their lives in Greene 
County. We visited the Camp Creek and the Horse Creek communities. We 
saw many of the homes that have been completely leveled, and debris was 
still being removed. We saw one home where a couple--the Harrisons had 
been helping neighbors into their basement when the tornadoes swept 
through and killed both Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, but spared the lives of 
the neighbors in the basement. There were two crosses there next to 
what was left of the basement structure of the home.
  At the Camp Creek Elementary School where FEMA has set up a disaster 
recovery center, I met Pamela Ward and her mother-in-law, Betty Ward. 
Mrs. Ward's home had been completely destroyed by the tornado, and her 
husband Kevin and their three daughters were staying in a hotel after 
discovering that the insurance on their home only paid off their 
mortgage. Mr. Brown and Q. Winfield, who is FEMA's Federal Coordinating 
Officer for Tennessee, immediately began working to help the Wards. By 
the next day, Mr. Winfield had called to let me know that FEMA had 
approved the maximum award to help Pamela Ward and her family get back 
on their feet.
  I also visited Washington County, where I met with Dan Eldridge, who 
is the mayor of the county, as well as local emergency management 
officials and families affected by the disaster. One resident was 
killed in a tornado that touched down in Washington County. Hundreds of 
homes were damaged. However, it was clear that families and volunteers 
had been hard at work putting their community back together. Rebuilding 
had begun, and the debris had already been removed in many areas.
  FEMA is doing an excellent job working with State and local 
officials, but the generosity of the volunteers and the entire 
community working in a collective way with the churches to help 
families get back on their feet is an amazing sight. It is still very 
important for victims to register with FEMA by calling 1-800-321-FEMA 
(3362). Families are also eligible for other forms of disaster 
assistance, including loans from the Small Business Administration and 
unemployment and food stamp benefits. While we cannot make these 
families whole, there are people who still need help, and we have to 
make sure they know help is available. I want to make sure that 
whatever the Federal Government is able to do, it is doing.
  Over the past year, Tennessee has experienced disasters of historic 
proportions. We know very well we are not the only State or the only 
community where this has happened. Beginning with the 1,000-year flood 
that struck middle and west Tennessee last May, to the devastating 
tornado outbreak and river flooding this year in both the eastern and 
western parts of our State, 74 of Tennessee's 95 counties are currently 
Presidentially declared disaster areas. Thousands of people are still 
recovering, and many are only just beginning to put their lives back 
together. In spite of everything this past year has thrown at us, 
Tennesseans are going about their business helping themselves and 
helping others in remarkable and inspiring ways.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.