[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 19, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29033-29034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11461]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 97 / Wednesday, May 19, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 29033]]


                Proclamation 7786 of May 14, 2004

                
National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful forces, 
                bringing destructive winds, tornadoes, and floods from 
                torrential rains and ocean storm surges. Each year, 
                several hurricanes develop off American shores in the 
                Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Some 
                of these strike the United States coastline every year, 
                causing numerous fatalities and costing billions of 
                dollars in damage. Many Americans are vulnerable to the 
                dangers of these storms.

                In recent years, advances in how we predict and track 
                these storms have improved preparedness and saved 
                lives, but people living in hurricane-prone areas still 
                must be prepared. The National Hurricane Center within 
                the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends developing 
                a family disaster plan, creating a disaster supply kit, 
                and staying aware of current weather situations.

                While citizens make preparations to keep themselves 
                safe, the Federal Government is maintaining our 
                commitment to improve forecasts to provide advance 
                warning and to coordinate effective emergency response. 
                The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency is also working on a plan to better 
                position disaster equipment and supplies, so Federal 
                resources to support local emergency services arrive 
                quickly.

                While no policy can eliminate the threat that 
                hurricanes pose to lives and property, cooperation 
                among citizens and Federal, State, and local officials 
                can reduce the dangers and provide a more effective 
                response to these storms.

                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 16 through May 22, 2004, 
                as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I call upon 
                government agencies, private organizations, schools, 
                news media, and residents in hurricane-prone areas to 
                share information about hurricane preparedness and 
                response, and to implement steps to minimize storm 
                damage and save lives. I also call upon Americans 
                living in the coastal areas of our Nation to use this 
                opportunity to learn more about how to protect 
                themselves against the effects of hurricanes and 
                tropical storms.

[[Page 29034]]

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-11461
Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P