Bill Text: PA HR670 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the week of March 14 through 20, 2010, as "Weather Emergency Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 40-16)

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-10 - Adopted [HR670 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR670-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3296
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 670 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY FAIRCHILD, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HELM, HICKERNELL, M. KELLER, KILLION, KORTZ, KULA, MAJOR, McCALL, MILLARD, MOUL, MUSTIO, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, QUINN, READSHAW, ROSS, SCAVELLO, SOLOBAY, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND SIPTROTH, MARCH 9, 2010
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 9, 2010
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of March 14 through 20, 2010, as "Weather
Emergency Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Each year natural disasters threaten the lives and
property of Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, six federally declared disasters created
very serious threats to public health and safety, and recovery
had strained State, county and municipal resources; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, severe tornadoes caused extensive loss and
damage to private and public property and resulted in a Federal
disaster declaration for this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, Hurricanes Floyd and Dennis caused
extensive flooding in 15 Pennsylvania counties; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, Tropical Depression Ivan caused extensive
flooding which affected more than 50 Pennsylvania counties, and
an F-3 tornado ripped through Campbelltown, Lebanon County,
where 35 houses were completely destroyed, 37 houses sustained
major damage and another 50 houses were significantly affected;
and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged several
regions of the Gulf Coast States, and the Commonwealth mobilized
a number of resources to assist rescue and recovery efforts; and
WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina caused isolated damage in Adams,
Armstrong and York Counties; and
WHEREAS, Of the range of natural disasters that can occur
across this Commonwealth, flooding is the most common; and
WHEREAS, Due in part to mountainous terrain and the nation-
leading 45,000-mile network of rivers, creeks and streams,
Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the most flood-prone
states; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the Valentine's Day storm caused several
interstate highways to be closed due to extensive snow and ice,
resulting in the Commonwealth's mobilizing a number of resources
to assist stranded motorists along closed interstates; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, severe winter weather caused record
snowfall totals across Pennsylvania and a Statewide disaster
emergency was declared, causing the Commonwealth to mobilize a
number of resources to respond to the severity of the storms;
and
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Council to help State, county and municipal
governments prepare for and respond to these disasters; and
WHEREAS, Annually the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency, with county emergency management officials and the
National Weather Service, administers a week-long weather
emergency preparedness program to alert citizens and elected
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officials to severe weather-related dangers; and
WHEREAS, In addition to educational and public information
programs, a three-day Statewide exercise provides county and
local emergency personnel, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and
day-care centers the opportunity to test their emergency
response plans and procedures; and
WHEREAS, The Emergency Alert System, which provides an
essential communications link between government and citizens
during an emergency, is tested Statewide through more than 400
radio and television stations as part of the week-long weather
emergency preparedness program; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of March 14 through 20, 2010, as "Weather Emergency
Preparedness Week" in Pennsylvania.
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