[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 28825-28826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13367]



[[Page 28823]]

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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7443--National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2001
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 101 / Thursday, May 24, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 28825]]

                Proclamation 7443 of May 22, 2001

                
National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                One of the most dramatic, damaging, and potentially 
                deadly weather events is a hurricane. Each year on 
                average, six hurricanes develop over the Atlantic 
                Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico. Many of these 
                remain over the ocean with little or no impact on the 
                continental United States. Unfortunately, though, on 
                average five hurricanes strike the United States 
                coastline every 3 years. These storms can cause 
                significant damage that can cost individuals, 
                businesses, and government billions of dollars. Worst 
                of all, however, is the loss that can never be 
                recovered: human life.

                Currently more than 48 million people live along 
                hurricane-prone coastlines in the United States. The 
                growing number of residents living in these areas, as 
                well as the millions of tourists who visit our Nation's 
                beaches annually, has increased the difficulties in 
                evacuating people from areas that are threatened by an 
                impending hurricane. This problem is further compounded 
                by the fact that a large majority of people living in 
                these areas have never experienced the force of a major 
                hurricane and its devastating impact.

                Increasingly, many Americans have begun working to 
                ensure that commonsense measures are implemented to 
                protect themselves and their property from natural 
                disasters including floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes. 
                Their foresight, hard work, and respect for the awesome 
                power of nature often yields great benefits for their 
                communities. They are to be commended for this 
                preventive work, and we should learn from their example 
                as we plan for future disasters.

                All Americans must be more vigilant about preparing for 
                disasters in advance, rather than just responding to 
                them after they occur. Specific actions can be taken in 
                advance of a storm that will further protect property, 
                help to ensure that businesses are able to resume work 
                quickly after a storm, and ultimately save lives. In 
                addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
                (FEMA) estimates that for every dollar spent in damage 
                prevention, two are saved in repairs.

                The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
                (NOAA) researchers and forecasters continue to improve 
                the accuracy of hurricane warnings that enable 
                residents to evacuate and emergency personnel to 
                effectively respond well in advance of the storm's 
                arrival. In addition, FEMA and NOAA have focused their 
                resources toward encouraging community leaders to work 
                with Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as 
                volunteer agencies, schools, the private sector, and 
                the news media to collectively undertake activities 
                that diminish the destruction of natural disasters. For 
                hurricane-prone areas, these measures can include 
                residents stockpiling emergency provisions, learning 
                evacuation routes, installing hurricane shutters, 
                building residential safe rooms and community shelters, 
                adopting stronger building codes, and retrofitting 
                existing buildings. These measures have proved 
                effective, and I encourage citizens living in these 
                areas to look for ways that they can better prepare 
                themselves and their communities to reduce the 
                potential devastating impact of these storms.

[[Page 28826]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim May 20 through May 26, 2001, 
                as National Hurricane Awareness Week. I call upon 
                government agencies, private organizations, schools, 
                news media, and residents in hurricane-prone areas to 
                work towards the prevention of needless storm damage 
                and to join me in raising awareness of the hazards 
                posed by hurricanes.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand one, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-13367
Filed 5-23-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P