[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 92 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4209-H4211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE SELFLESS HEROES OF THE OKLAHOMA STORMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Houlahan). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Kevin Hern) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of 
this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, the last 2 weeks have been 
brutal for much of America. Storms, tornadoes, and floodwaters have 
attacked our homes and our people.
  I spent last week across the First District of Oklahoma, watching the 
waters rise and the homes and livelihoods of my community be destroyed. 
It was heart-wrenching.
  Every day, I saw more families forced to evacuate, more homes take on 
water, more sinkholes open up, and roadways disappear under the flood. 
This disaster has reached every corner of my district and has 
permanently affected countless families.
  For some, a lifetime of building a home was washed away in a matter 
of days. There are priceless photos that will never be recovered, 
neighborhoods that will never be the same, families who have lost 
everything.
  We may have caught the attention of the Nation for a few days while 
tornadoes tore up our country and storms battered our homes, but now 
the water subsides, and the cameras turn off, but the damage remains. 
Our communities will be forever changed.
  In times of war, there is an enemy. There is a target for our 
retribution. When foreign armies attacked Pearl Harbor, we had a swift 
response. There was somewhere to go, someone to fight.
  When your people are attacked by nature, when it is flood waters 
destroying your home instead of armies, where do you turn?
  In times of disaster, it is easy to shake your fist at God. It is 
natural to be angry and to turn that anger on the only being you think 
you can blame.
  Instead, what I have seen in my community this week is faith, 
generosity, and the genuine love and care for our fellow man.
  It is these moments of devastation when true character shines 
through. This is when heroes are made.
  When everyone is running away from a problem or dangerous situation, 
who runs toward it?
  Tonight, we are here to honor the selfless heroes of the storms, the 
men and women of our communities who showed true leadership and courage 
these last few weeks to keep our people safe and protect our families.
  I am proud of Oklahomans and how they came together. I am humbled to 
have personally heard their stories.
  Along with my colleagues, we will shine a light on the brave people 
whose sacrifices will forever have an impact on our districts.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

[[Page H4210]]

  

  Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for 
holding this Special Order tonight to honor all these individuals that 
did so much.
  A lot of people probably watched last week on the evening news and 
during the day the tornadoes that struck Ohio. And one, in particular, 
struck my district in Mercer County in the city of Celina. And a lot of 
folks, when I was over there, said they didn't have very much time to 
react and seek shelter because of how fast the storms came on.
  But I think it is really important to thank these individuals that 
responded immediately to what happened.
  These are our first responders, our police, our fire, our emergency 
management, our emergency services out there. They are the ones that 
got out there to help, and they were on the front lines, right when it 
struck in the evening, and they worked all night long, all the next 
morning, and straight through.
  I was there a day and a half after the tornadoes struck, and it is 
amazing to see how the community came together. But, again, at the same 
time, it was the individuals on the ground that made sure it happened.
  So, again, I just really thank all of those individuals, and also our 
elected officials, for all that they did, and the countless hours that 
they spent making sure that the citizens of their city of Celina and 
their county of Mercer received the help that they needed.
  I think it is also important, because of the resilience of the people 
that lived there--and out in the community, looking at all the 
destroyed homes, the damaged homes--but I think it is important, 
because one of the gentlemen I talked with really had his priorities.
  When he was bringing out all the damage from his home, you know, he 
had told me when they built their house, and how long they had lived 
there. But he said, you know what, we got out with our lives.
  And all the things that he said that they were hauling out of the 
house--and he just kind of pointed to it all, it was across the entire 
front--he said it was just stuff. And he had his priorities, because 
the families were safe, and they got out.
  Unfortunately, we did have a fatality. A gentleman who was in his bed 
sleeping had a car lifted up from two doors down and it crashed and 
crushed him in his bed.
  So, you know, it is when we have these tornadoes and we have these 
disasters across the country, I think it is important that we always 
remember to thank those who are on the front lines, day and night, 7 
days a week, 24 hours a day, making sure that we are safe and have that 
protection.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for having the Special Order 
this evening, for having the ability to thank those who needed to be 
thanked again and again and again for all that they do for us.
  Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Ohio.

  Madam Speaker, anyone can run for office. Anyone can have a title, 
but it takes true leadership and true selflessness to stand up in the 
heart of a disaster and lead your community.
  Oklahomans are blessed to have incredible leaders at every level of 
government.
  Local officials in all of my districts, cities, and counties worked 
sleepless nights, through torrential rains, and devastating tornadoes 
to keep our people safe and informed.
  Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum has been an around-the-clock warrior for his 
city. Truly, I don't think he slept in the last 2 weeks. Along with 
Tulsa's city councilors, Phil Lakin, Kara Joy McKee, Vanessa Hall-
Harper, and TAEMA Director Joe Kralicek, they have had a constant 
presence with our people, helping where they can, but most importantly, 
keeping the Tulsa community informed of where the water was headed, 
when to evacuate, and where to go.
  Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, Undersheriff George Brown, and 
Commissioners Stan Sallee, Karen Keith, and Ron Peters have been 
vigilant in monitoring the movement of the flood waters and have had an 
active presence in the hardest hit areas of the city.
  Wagoner Mayor Albert Jones, Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell, City 
Manager Roger Kolman, Mayor Evette Morris, EMS Director Heath 
Underwood, and Sheriff Chris Elliott have likewise been a constant 
source of strength for Wagoner County.
  Sand Springs was especially hard hit this past week, and Mayor Jim 
Spoon has shown true leadership for his community.
  Vice Mayor Patty Dixon, Councilors Phil Nollan, Mike Burdge, 
Christine Hammer, Beau Wilson, Brian Jackson, and Police Chief Mike 
Carter have proven to be an asset to their town and their people 
throughout this disaster.
  In Bixby, Mayor Brian Guthrie, City Manager Jared Cottle, Vice Mayor 
John Easton, Councilors Paul Blair, Brad Girard, and Robin Decatur have 
gone above and beyond to protect their people.
  Jenks Police Chief Cameron Arthur, City Manager Christopher Shrout, 
Mayor Robert Lee, Vice Mayor Kaye Lynn, and Councilors Gary Isbell, 
Craig Murray, Dr. Josh Wedmen, Donna Ogez, and Cory Box.
  Bartlesville Mayor Dale Copeland, Vice Mayor Alan Gentges, Councilors 
Paul Stuart, Jim Curd, Jr., Trevor Dorsey, and Police Chief Tracy 
Roles.
  Washington County Commissioners Mitch Antle, Mike Bouvier, and Mike 
Dunlap, Emergency Management Director Kary Cox, and Sheriff Scott Owen.
  Collinsville Mayor Bud York.
  Skiatook Fire Chief Jim Annas, City Manager Dan Yancey, Mayor Roger 
Upton, and Vice Mayor Herb Forbes.
  Owasso Mayor Dr. Chris Kelley, City Manager Warren Lehr, and Police 
Chief Scott Chambless.
  Catoosa City Manager John Blish and Mayor Brenda Conley.
  Okay Mayor Brad Matthews, and Johnny Walker.
  All of these local leaders have been a godsend to their communities 
during one of Oklahoma's worst widespread natural disasters in memory.
  Thanks to all of these incredible people that have shown leadership 
during our time of crisis. Your service does not go unnoticed.
  During this storm, members of the community decided to stand up and 
lead, not because they worked for local government, not because they 
were a first responder, but because they knew there was a need for 
leadership in their neighborhood.
  Today, I would like to tell the story of one of those men.
  Jeremy Herrington is from the Town and Country neighborhood of Sand 
Springs--one of the communities hardest hit by the floodwaters.
  After doing his own study of the floodplain maps, Jeremy realized the 
danger to his neighborhood long before the Army Corps of Engineers or 
local officials. He took to social media to warn his neighbors to 
evacuate, and many of them did.
  Through the Town and Country Facebook page that Jeremy manages, his 
neighborhood has been transformed into a loving community working 
together to overcome the disaster.
  Instead of turning on each other, Jeremy's neighbors have come 
together to share with each other, support each other, cry together, 
and give advice on how to recover from the floods.

                              {time}  2000

  Most of the Facebook group have never met in real life, but the 
community Jeremy helped create online has bound them together like a 
family. Now that the Town and County neighborhood is returning home, 
they are mourning together and beginning their recovery process 
together.
  Without the attentive work of Jeremy, his community wouldn't have 
been notified of the danger in time. I am thankful for Jeremy's work to 
keep his neighbors informed. I am sure his community is grateful for 
his dedication as well.
  The most important thing we can do to prepare for disaster is to 
communicate. In that regard, Oklahoma's First Congressional District 
was in the most capable hands. The meteorologists and storm chasers in 
our media market have been working around the clock to keep people 
informed of the weather, telling them where to go and what to do in 
case of disaster.
  Some of the hardworking team includes: Mike Collier, Brandon Wholey, 
Kirsten Lang, Clint Boone, Dan Threlkeld, Chris Nestman, Caroline 
Brown, Katy Kramer, James Aydelott, Michael Seger, Laura Mock, Brad 
Carl,

[[Page H4211]]

Megan McClellan, Stacia Knight, Michael Grogan, Alan Crone, Stephen 
Nehrenz, and of course, Travis Meyer.
  Without the thorough preparedness of these teams, the Tulsa area 
would have faced unimaginable devastation. When the skies are clear and 
it is smooth sailing, it is easy to overlook the work that these people 
put in day and night. But after the past 2 weeks, it is undeniable the 
essential role they have in our community.
  My deepest thanks to our hardworking meteorologists and brave storm-
chasing teams that have kept us informed and safe. The work is not 
over. The floodwaters have not disappeared yet, and they are all still 
working hard to keep our community informed.
  We had the worst floods in history and lost no lives, which is a 
testament to their communication.
  Our law enforcement officers, like many in our community, have worked 
tirelessly to protect our people through the storms. Some, like Captain 
Jason Morrison and Sheriff Corporal Mike Heisten, are volunteering 
their time on dive teams to rescue missing persons and people stranded 
in the floods.
  Dealing with the quick-moving, murky floodwaters is challenging, to 
say the least. It is a scary task, but these men answered the call to 
action because they knew their community needed them.
  In a flood situation as dire as we had in Oklahoma last week, whole 
towns were being evacuated. Entire cities were underwater. There were 
places completely shut off from the rest of the State because all the 
surrounding roads were underwater.
  In this kind of danger, who goes back for those left behind? Who goes 
in to find the victims of the storms? Captain Morrison and Sheriff 
Corporal Heisten did.
  We can never fully comprehend the danger that these disasters bring 
to our homes until they are here. Captain Morrison and Sheriff Corporal 
Heisten did not hesitate to step into the path of danger to keep their 
community safe, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
  The devastation of these floods extends well beyond the homes and 
lives of the people of Oklahoma's First Congressional District. 
Countless businesses took on disastrous amounts of water over the last 
few weeks. Many businesses had to shutter completely, and many will 
need extensive repairs before they can reopen.
  The River Spirit Casino Resort along the Arkansas River is one of 
those businesses. The resort has become a key destination in Tulsa, and 
it was forced to shut down during one of the most profitable travel 
holidays of the year, Memorial Day weekend.
  Instead of leaving hundreds of employees out to dry, River Spirit 
continued to pay these employees during the flood and will continue to 
pay these employees until the resort is able to open and resume 
operations, well into July.
  Likewise, HollyFrontier Tulsa Refinery, located on the Arkansas 
River, has chosen to continue paying employees for the duration of 
their building's closure. HollyFrontier is even helping displaced 
employees pay for hotel rooms.
  These companies are going above and beyond to help their employees 
during a time of crisis, and it deserves recognition.
  I would be remiss to speak tonight on all local heroes of the last 
few weeks and not talk about a woman who has worked tirelessly to keep 
Tulsa County safe. County Commissioner Karen Keith has been a perennial 
source of strength not only for the people impacted by the floods but 
also for the local leaders and responders who have been working to 
combat the flooding as well.
  Commissioner Keith is not one to stay safe inside the emergency 
operations room and direct from inside. She has been out on boats in 
the floodwaters in the most devastated parts of town every day. She has 
been out in the community, rain or shine, working across party lines to 
make sure everyone was safe and accounted for.
  She has been helping business owners deal with the aftermath of 
flooded storefronts and helping families navigate disaster aid and 
evacuation protocols.
  When water released from the dam was increasing and posing a further 
threat to Tulsa County, she made sure people in the impacted areas were 
evacuated and cared for.
  Disasters like this make or break a person as a leader, and 
Commissioner Keith has proven her ironclad dedication to the people of 
Tulsa County. Even now, as the floodwaters begin to subside, 
Commissioner Keith is still working at all hours to help those who have 
been forever affected by these storms.
  I am so thankful for Commissioner Keith and the work she has done to 
keep Tulsa County safe these last few weeks.
  Wagoner County is the largest county in the First Congressional 
District. There was a lot of ground to cover there and a lot of 
coordination needed for emergency response during the last 2 weeks.
  Heath Underwood, the Wagoner County director of emergency management, 
was the man to coordinate it all. When floodwaters came for his 
community, he kept all the moving pieces of disaster relief functioning 
and running smoothly.

  It has been a never-ending cycle of rainfall, water release at the 
dam, and extending floodwaters across Wagoner County, but Heath 
weathered it all. He coordinated rescue efforts for people stranded in 
their homes and on highways across the county. I am sure those who were 
stranded are thankful for his dedication.
  Our local leaders have proven absolutely dependable and honorable 
throughout this entire disaster, and Heath Underwood is right up there 
with the best of them.
  There are so many people who have proven absolutely vital to our 
community throughout this time of disaster. I could not be more 
thankful for our leaders or proud of our people than I am after 
experiencing the trauma of the last 2 weeks in my district.
  In times of disaster, true colors will show. While these tornadoes, 
storms, and floods could have brought out the worst in Oklahoma, it 
brought out the very best and bound us together as a community. The 
friendships forged in the fire of absolute devastation will outlast 
these floodwaters. They will be stronger than the damage to our homes.
  Heroes were made in Oklahoma this week, and I am glad to have this 
chance to share their stories.
  I thank my colleagues who joined me tonight. It means a lot that my 
colleagues would join me in shedding a light on the people who have 
been truly remarkable in our districts back home.
  The message to take away from all of this is simple: Together, we are 
stronger. Together, we will get through this.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________