[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE NOAA WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR.

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
accomplishments of the NOAA Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Lake 
Charles, Louisiana. In September 2005, as Hurricane Rita was 
approaching the coast of Southwest Louisiana, the WFO Lake Charles 
developed a life saving partnership with elected officials and 
emergency managers that was instrumental in minimizing deaths from the 
storm. While Rita destroyed critical infrastructure and forever changed 
the landscape of Southwest Louisiana, WFO Lake Charles lived up to the 
motto of the National Weather Service by ``Working Together to Save 
Lives.''
  With up-to-date storm-tracking information, elected officials, law 
enforcement and emergency response personnel were able to lead a safe 
and thorough evacuation. In recognition of their heroic efforts, the 
staff of the WFO Lake Charles was recently awarded the Bronze Medal 
from the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as a special award from 
the American Meteorological Society.
  Although Hurricane Rita has changed the coast of Southwest Louisiana, 
it has also reinforced the belief in all of us that preparation is the 
key to ensuring our families, and our homes, are safe from future 
disaster. To that end, I commend the WFO Lake Charles for their 
outstanding job and dedication to the people of Southwest Louisiana.

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