[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 H.R. 2486 ``INLAND FLOOD FORECASTING AND WARNING SYSTEM ACT OF 2002''

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2002

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2486) to 
     authorize the National Weather Service to conduct research 
     and development, training, and outreach activities relating 
     to tropical cyclone inland forecasting improvement, and for 
     other purposes:
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, as I stand before you 
today, homeowners of my district in Eastern North Carolina are making 
preparations for another hurricane season along the coast. 
Unfortunately, many of my constituents have yet to fully recover from 
effects of seasons past.
  The United States has a significant hurricane problem. More than 60 
percent of our population live in coastal states, and every year these 
citizens must rely on the most accurate information at their disposal 
as they take the measures necessary to remain safe.
  Mr. Chairman, when most people think of the dangers of hurricanes, 
high winds and storm surges come to mind. However, more people have 
died from inland flooding over the past 30 years than any other cause. 
While high winds are a major source of damage, their impacts are often 
localized to immediate coastal areas. On the contrary, inland flooding 
threatens communities hundreds of miles from the coast, as powerful 
rains fall from these huge tropical air masses.
  My constituents know all too well the perils of inland flooding. In 
1999, Hurricane Floyd brought torrential rains and record flooding to 
Eastern North Carolina. As riverbanks and dams gave way, townspeople 
were lucky to find safety before their homes and businesses were washed 
away. Of the 56 people who lost their lives in this storm, 50 of them 
drowned due to inland flooding.
  Mr. Chairman, even more heartbreaking is the fact that these deaths 
could have been prevented. That is why I stand before you today to 
voice my full support for H.R. 2486, the Inland Flood Forecasting and 
Warning System Act, introduced by my colleague from North Carolina, Bob 
Etheridge.
  This bill will give the National Weather Service, emergency 
officials, and meteorologists the tools necessary to moderate the 
dangers of tropical cyclones and inland flooding. More importantly it 
saves lives.
  Mr. Chairman, each year citizens along coastal areas do their part to 
protect families and communities from the effects of hurricanes, now 
it's time for Congress to do ours.