    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 7678 of May 15, 2003

    National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2003

    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    Destructive winds, tornadoes, torrential rains, ocean water storm
    surges, and flooding make hurricanes one of nature's most extreme
    hazards. As hurricane season approaches, Americans who live in
    hurricane-prone areas must prepare to help ensure their safety and
    minimize damage to their communities.
    Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and continues through November
    30. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an average of
    10 tropical storms develop in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and
    Gulf of Mexico, and 6 become hurricanes each year. In the past 2 years
    alone, 9 tropical storms and 1 hurricane hit our country, causing 54
    deaths and more than $6 billion in damages. While we cannot stop these
    storms from occurring, we can take steps to limit our vulnerability.
    Being aware of the dangers of tropical

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    storms and hurricanes and knowing what to do to mitigate their
    devastating effects are our best defenses.
    Federal, State, and local agencies across America are working diligently
    to prepare our communities for natural disasters. Beginning this year,
    NOAA's hurricane forecasts will look 5 days into the future, rather than
    3 days. This enhanced forecasting ability, combined with efforts to
    improve the accuracy of hurricane warnings, enables coastal residents
    and emergency personnel to more effectively prepare for a storm's
    arrival. In addition, Federal agencies such as FEMA and organizations
    such as the American Red Cross have teamed up with State and local
    agencies, rescue and relief organizations, the private sector, and the
    news media to distribute information to the public and coordinate
    efforts before, during, and after a tropical storm or hurricane has
    struck.
    To help individuals prepare for an approaching tropical storm or
    hurricane, FEMA recommends practical measures, to make sure that homes
    and businesses are ready by developing a plan for what to do; securing
    loose objects and protecting property by covering glass with plywood or
    shutters; and creating a disaster supply kit with flashlights, a
    battery-powered radio, food that does not need refrigeration, water, and
    first aid supplies. The National Weather Service also encourages
    acquiring a weather radio equipped with the Specific Area Message
    Encoder feature that provides automatic alerts when important weather
    information is issued for an area. For more information on how to
    prepare for the ravages of hazardous weather, you can go to the National
    Weather Service website at www.nws.noaa.gov.
    Millions of Americans are at risk of being personally affected by a
    tropical storm or hurricane. More than one in six Americans in the
    continental United States lives along the Eastern Atlantic or Gulf of
    Mexico coast, and millions of tourists visit these areas annually.
    Because of the growing populations in coastal areas, it is essential
    that Americans prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters.
    During National Hurricane Awareness Week, we promote awareness of these
    weather hazards, organize our efforts, and work to improve our ability
    to endure and survive tropical storms and hurricanes.
    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 18 through May 24,
    2003, as National Hurricane Awareness Week. I call upon government
    agencies, private organizations, schools, and news media in hurricane-
    prone areas to share information about hurricane preparedness and
    response in order to help prevent storm damage and save lives. I also
    call upon Americans living in these 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.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
    May, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.
    GEORGE W. BUSH

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