[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

[[Page 3045]]
117 STAT. 3045

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



[[Page 3046]]
117 STAT. 3046