PRINTER'S NO. 3561
No. 588 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY SEMMEL, TIGUE, GINGRICH, BASTIAN, SOLOBAY, ZUG,
ADOLPH, ARGALL, BALDWIN, BEBKO-JONES, BEYER, BOYD,
CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CORNELL, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA,
CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI,
J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FLEAGLE, FORCIER,
FRANKEL, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GOOD, GOODMAN,
GRUCELA, HARHART, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS,
JAMES, KOTIK, LEDERER, LEH, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, McGILL,
MILLARD, S. MILLER, MYERS, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE,
PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PISTELLA, PYLE, RAPP, READSHAW, ROBERTS,
ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR,
SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SHANER, SIPTROTH, B. SMITH, SONNEY,
STABACK, STAIRS, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TRUE, WALKO,
WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 13, 2006
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 13, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of March 12 through 18, 2006, as "Weather
2 Emergency Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Each year natural disasters threaten the lives and
4 property of Pennsylvanians; and
5 WHEREAS, In 1998 severe tornadoes caused extensive losses and
6 damage to private and public property and resulted in a Federal
7 disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
8 WHEREAS, In 1999 Hurricane Floyd and Hurricane Dennis caused
9 extensive flooding in 15 Pennsylvania counties; and
10 WHEREAS, These events and others in six federally declared
11 disasters in 1996 have created very serious threats to public
1 health and safety, and recovery has strained State, county and
2 municipal resources; and
3 WHEREAS, In 2004 Tropical Depression Ivan caused extensive
4 flooding which affected more than 50 Pennsylvania counties, and
5 an F-3 tornado ripped through Campbelltown, Lebanon County,
6 where 35 houses were completely destroyed, 37 houses sustained
7 major damage and another 50 houses were significantly affected;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, In 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged several
10 regions of the Gulf Coast States, and the Commonwealth mobilized
11 a number of resources to assist rescue and recovery efforts; and
12 WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina caused isolated damage in Adams,
13 Armstrong and York Counties; and
14 WHEREAS, Of the range of natural disasters that can occur
15 across this Commonwealth, flooding is the most common; and
16 WHEREAS, Due in part to our mountainous terrain and our
17 nation-leading 45,000-mile network of rivers, creeks and
18 streams, Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the most flood-
19 prone states; and
20 WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Pennsylvania
21 Emergency Management Council to help State, county and municipal
22 governments prepare for and respond to these disasters; and
23 WHEREAS, Annually the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
24 Agency, with county emergency management officials and the
25 United States National Weather Service, administers a week-long
26 weather emergency preparedness program to alert citizens and
27 elected officials to severe weather-related dangers; and
28 WHEREAS, In addition to educational and public information
29 programs, a three-day Statewide exercise provides county and
30 local emergency personnel, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and
20060H0588R3561 - 2 -
1 day-care centers the opportunity to test their emergency
2 response plans and procedures; and
3 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Emergency Alert System, which
4 provides an essential communications link between government and
5 citizens during an emergency, is tested Statewide through more
6 than 400 radio and television stations as part of the week-long
7 weather emergency preparedness program; therefore be it
8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
9 week of March 12 through 18, 2006, as "Weather Emergency
10 Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.
A30L82JLW/20060H0588R3561 - 3 -