[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              DEVASTATING TORNADOES HIT SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP. Madam Speaker, tonight I ask my colleagues in the House 
of Representatives and the people of our Nation to join me in prayer 
for the families of those who suffered grievous losses as a result of 
tornadoes last night that brought widespread devastation and extensive 
loss of life to rural areas of Mitchell, Grady, Colquitt and Taft 
counties in a part of southwest Georgia that I have the privilege of 
representing.
  This is one of the worst natural disasters in our State's history. 
The number of people whose lives were lost continue to mount throughout 
the day; and, as yet, the total has still not been definitely 
determined. By now, my colleagues have probably seen images of this 
terrible disaster in the national news. These are rural residential 
neighborhoods that now look like battle zones, with home after home 
turned into rubble. To say the least, it is a heartbreaking sight.
  I know the people of my area of Georgia can count on the support of 
my colleagues as we mobilize all of the available resources, public and 
private, to provide the emergency assistance that is going to be 
needed. Our Congressional office stands ready to provide any help and 
guidance that individuals, businesses, and governmental entities need 
to gain access to much needed disaster relief assistance.
  I want to take this opportunity to commend all of the government 
leaders in the impacted counties who are responding so effectively and 
valiantly and the municipal leaders in those areas who are lending 
their assistance. I also want to commend the many private citizens who 
are helping to provide relief for their neighbors, as well as the 
private organizations that are involved in this relief effort.
  I certainly commend Governor Roy Barnes and everyone at our State 
level, including Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director Gary 
McConnell and all of his people over at GEMA, who have sprung into 
action on so many fronts and, along with Governor Barnes, have started 
the process leading to a major disaster declaration.
  And those of us from Georgia, Madam Speaker, are also thankful for 
the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and its fine 
Director James Lee Witt, who is working hand-in-glove with state and 
community leaders in responding decisively to this disaster.
  Madam Speaker, this is a time for all of our communities to pull 
together. After severe flooding struck our area of Georgia just a few 
years ago, including the areas that have been struck by these terrible 
tornadoes, I quoted the Apostle Paul, who said, ``God's strength is 
made perfect in weakness.''
  It is with this strength that we in southwest Georgia will confront 
this tragedy and come together in our collective faith, our hope, and 
our charitable spirit to bring comfort to those who have suffered and 
to begin the work of rebuilding our communities.

                          ____________________

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