HR 2 Text

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 27
(By Delegates Evans, Schadler, Hamilton, Rowan,
Smith, Cowles, Azinger, D. Walker,
Canterbury and Crosier)

Recognizing the significance and expressing our appreciation of the valiant efforts by the hundred of Division of Highways employees who worked many long and hard hours, and the sacrifices made by their families, so that they could keep the roads of West Virginia clear and safe for our citizens during record amounts of snowfall during this winter; and
Whereas, West Virginia was one of many states that was hit by the North American Blizzard of 2009 the week before Christmas, December 18 through December 20, 2009; and
Whereas, The North American Blizzard of 2009 resulted in President Obama declaring it a major disaster for the affected areas that included fifteen counties in West Virginia; and
Whereas, The North American Blizzard of 2009 resulted in more than twenty inches of snow falling on the West Virginia Turnpike and left many motorists stranded for nearly a day; and
Whereas, The state and the Northeast region of the nation were hit with a second blizzard in February 2010 with the state's eastern panhandle being hit the hardest with Martinsburg seeing twenty-eight inches of snowfall between February 6 and February 7; and
Whereas, This past winter saw record amounts of snowfall in the state, Beckley received forty-five inches in February, Clarksburg received thirty-nine inches in February, Charleston received twenty-six inches in February and, thus far, Elkins has received one hundred three inches over the winter and Terr Alta, where the seasonal average is one hundred sixty inches, has had two hundred sixty-one inches of snow; and
Whereas, Despite the record amounts of snowfall throughout the state that caused the President to declare a major disaster and the Governor to declare a state of emergency, the many Division of Highways employees responded quickly and performed their duties with diligence often in the dead of night when the rest of us lay sleeping unaware of what we would wake to; and
Whereas, Officials from the Secretary of Transportation, Paul Mattox to National Guard Adjutant General Alan Tackett, have commended the Division of Highways' employees stating that their efforts were "remarkably well planned and executed considering the severity of the weather and the short respite between the storms"; and
Whereas, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jimmy Gianto said, "West Virginia was the only state in the Northeast region that did not have to shut down major roadways" during the February storms; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the members hereby express our gratitude and heartfelt thanks on behalf of all West Virginians for their unyielding diligence in keeping the roads of our state clear from the snow that never seemed to end so that the rest of us and our families could travel the roads safely and a great sense of security; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and all division employees.

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