[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 98 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1050-E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE 10TH ANNUAL SAN MATEO COUNTY DISASTER 
                            PREPAREDNESS DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2014

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 10th annual San Mateo 
County Disaster Preparedness Day on this day, Saturday, June 7, 2014.
  This event grew out of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which 
devastated southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2005. The Nation watched 
in horror as Americans were waving for help from the roofs of their 
homes surrounded by water. Hurricane Katrina became the costliest 
natural disaster and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in U.S. 
history. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen here in the Bay 
Area if a major earthquake hit. As all of us know, it's not a question 
of if, but when.
  We convened a small group of leaders on September 11, 2004 to discuss 
disaster preparedness in our county. From this meeting arose the first 
countywide disaster preparedness event to educate residents. San Mateo 
County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier and Supervisor Don Horsley created 
such a stir in the community that when event day dawned, about 5,000 
individuals attended. They learned directly from first responders 
giving emergency demonstrations, and that first year there were 40 
exhibitor booths and numerous emergency vehicles. Through sponsorships 
by local businesses and community partners, we were able to hand out 
1,000 emergency preparedness backpacks to the first attendees and feed 
all attendees complimentary lunches. It was a true community event.
  Every year since then, the San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day 
has taken place at locations throughout the county, including South San 
Francisco High School, the USGS campus in Menlo Park and at the Event 
Center. Tens of thousands have been trained. Many of those who attend 
are young people and students. Disaster Preparedness Day offers 
families a teaching moment--a time to reflect upon what will happen to 
each family member if communication is cut off or mobility restricted. 
As mothers and fathers instruct their young children in how to be safe 
but not frightened, and as emergency responders offer teens their first 
exposure to adult-like duties, such as first aid and CPR, you can 
almost watch the fabric of the community being woven right before your 
eyes.
  On the 10th anniversary of this important day, we continue our 
tradition of presenting, during the opening ceremony, flags by the San 
Mateo County Sheriff Department Honor Guard and a wreath dedicated to 
the lives that

[[Page E1051]]

have been lost due to disasters. We also continue to offer a free CPR 
course for attendees plus explanations of hospital care during an 
emergency, and instructions on how to store food, currency and water in 
safe places. Experts on earthquakes, fires and floods explain likely 
scenarios and often the local fire departments give detailed, localized 
explanations to their own residents.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor the 10th annual Disaster Preparedness Day in San Mateo County. No 
one wants to experience a disaster, but everyone must be prepared for 
one. It has been said that practice makes perfect. In San Mateo County, 
we can never hope to be perfect in our response to disaster, but 
everyone knows that we practice because we love our families, our 
community and our neighborhoods, and we are determined to be prepared.

                          ____________________