[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 28305-28306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     WIND HAZARD REDUCTION CAUCUS.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 3, 1999

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to alert my colleagues 
to the formation last month of a very important new organization, the 
Wind Hazard Reduction Caucus. The caucus is cochaired by our 
colleagues, Representative Dennis Moore of Kansas, and Representative 
Walter B. Jones of North Carolina. Both of these gentlemen have a great 
deal of first hand experience in helping their neighbors recover from 
the ravages of tornadoes and hurricanes. These Members are to be 
commended for their efforts to sensitize their colleagues to the extent 
to which the problems these storms cause are avoidable with proper 
planning. This caucus will be dedicated to achieving a 75 percent 
reduction in damage from windstorms by the end of the coming decade. 
Remarks of Mr. James E. Davis, executive director of the American 
Society of Civil Engineers and also the remarks of Congressmen Jones 
and Moore, which were made last week at a reception celebrating the 
formation of the caucus are found below.

                 Wind Hazard Reduction Caucus Reception


     Remarks by Representative Dennis Moore (D-KS) Caucus Co-Chair

                            October 27, 1999

       To paraphrase Mark Twain, everybody talks about the weather 
     but this caucus does something about it. All 50 states are 
     vulnerable to the hazards of windstorms. During Hurricane 
     Floyd alone, North Carolina lost 48 lives, more than twice 
     the number of deaths along the entire Eastern Coast for the 
     1998 hurricane season and is now faced with staggering 
     economic damages in the billions of dollars. In 1992, 
     Hurricane Andrew resulted in $26.5 billion in losses and 61 
     fatalities. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo resulted in $7 billion in 
     losses and 86 fatalities. In 1998, a calm year according to 
     experts, due to wind related storms there was more than $5.5 
     billion in damages, and at least 186 fatalities.
       The federal government invests $5 million to develop and 
     promote knowledge, practices, and policies that seek to 
     reduce and where possible eliminate losses from wind related 
     disasters. In contrast the federal government invests nearly 
     $100 million per year in reducing earthquake losses through 
     the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. A federal 
     investment in Wind Hazard Reduction will pay significant 
     dividends in lives saved and decreased property damage.
       The Wind Hazard Reduction Caucus or ``Big Wind'' will 
     develop a program to reduce loss of life and property by 75% 
     by 2010. Damage can be substantially reduced through the 
     development and implementation of an effective National Wind 
     Hazard Reduction Program. This program will address better: 
     design and construction methods and practices; emergency 
     response; use of modern technology for early-warning systems; 
     building codes enforcement; and public education and 
     involvement programs.
       We are focused on increasing the awareness of Members of 
     Congress about the public safety and economic loss issues 
     associated with wind, increasing public safety and decreasing 
     the economic losses associated with tropical storms, 
     thunderstorms, and tornadoes.
       In my own hometown of Wichita, Kansas, a tornado rated F4 
     intensity, plowed through the suburb of Haysville on May 3, 
     1999. It was responsible for 6 deaths, 150 injuries and over 
     140 million dollars in damage.
       Tornadoes are one of nature's most violent storms. in an 
     average year, 800 tornadoes are reported across the United 
     States, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. A 
     tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from 
     a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are 
     capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph 
     or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 
     50 miles long.
       Through we still can not control the weather, with this 
     caucus we will at least be able to do something about it. 
     Thank you for coming to the kick-off reception for the Wind 
     Hazard Reduction Caucus. I also want to thank the American 
     Society of Civil Engineers especially Brian Pallasch and 
     Martin Hight for their insight into the development of this 
     caucus along with Jim Turner, Democratic staff of the Science 
     Committee. Legislation is not created in a vacuum; 
     Congressman Jones and I look forward to working with all of 
     you in the months to come.


             Remarks by Representative Walter Jones (D-NC)

       Thank you for your warm welcome. I am pleased to be a co-
     chair of the Wind Hazard Reduction Caucus, also known as Big 
     Wind. My district and many other districts in North Carolina 
     are extremely vulnerable to the hazards presented by 
     windstorms. The most recent string of hurricanes to sweep the 
     Eastern seaboard is testament to the severity of these 
     storms.
       In North Carolina alone, Hurricane Floyd took 48 lives, 
     more than twice the total number of deaths along the entire 
     eastern coast during the 1998 hurricane season. And it is 
     predicted that the economic damages will reach well into the 
     billions of dollars. Still we have yet to realize the full 
     impact of these hurricanes, both financially and 
     environmentally. For these reasons I am pleased to be part of 
     the Big Wind Caucus. It is vitally important to increase 
     awareness for public safety and decrease the enormous 
     economic loss associated with wind hazards. I look forward to 
     working with Congressman Moore and the members of this caucus 
     to increase public education and the use of effective 
     prevention measures to deal with windstorms.
       On that note, I would like to introduce my distinguished 
     colleague and co-chair, Congressman Dennis Moore. He has 
     first hand experience dealing with the devastation of wind 
     hazards, as he represents a district frequently struck by 
     tornadoes. I applaud his efforts and enthusiasm to make this 
     Caucus a reality.


                     Remarks by Mr. James E. Davis

       Good evening, and welcome to the Inaugural Event of the 
     Congressional Wind Hazard Reduction Caucus. I am Jim Davis, 
     Executive director of the American Society of Civil 
     Engineers, one of the sponsors of tonight's event. We are 
     very pleased to be working with the many Members of Congress, 
     here tonight, on reducing the hazards associated with 
     tornadoes, thunderstorms and hurricanes.
       Representatives, Walter Jones Jr., of North Carolina and 
     Dennis Moore of Kansas have taken the lead and created the 
     bipartisan Wind Hazard Reduction Caucus of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives. To support the Caucus efforts, ASCE will 
     organize and lead a Wind Hazard Reduction Coalition of 
     related professional societies, research organizations, 
     industry groups and individual companies to leverage research 
     and development activities. These groups to date include the 
     following: Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE, American 
     Iron and Steel Institute, American Portland Cement Alliance, 
     Anderson Window Corporation, Applied Research Associates, 
     Clemson University, International Code Council, and Texas 
     Tech University.

[[Page 28306]]

       Again, thank you all for being here, and we look forward to 
     working with all of you to increase Congressional awareness 
     of the public safety and economic loss issues associated with 
     tornadoes, hurricanes, tropical storms and thunderstorms, and 
     to develop and implement an effective National Wind Hazard 
     Reduction Program.

     

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