SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 11
(By Senators Boley, Tomblin, Mr. President, Sharpe, Walker,
Deem, Blatnik, Dittmar, Manchin, Wagner, Yoder, Wiedebusch,
Ross, Wooton, Helmick, Dugan, Buckalew, Anderson, Love,
Schoonover, Kimble, Bowman, Miller, Whitlow, Grubb,
Plymale, Craigo, Oliverio, Minear, White, Jackson,
Macnaughtan, Scott and Chafin)
Commending the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services,
various state agencies and volunteer organizations for
providing meritorious response to the citizens of West
Virginia during the blizzard and flooding of January, 1996.
Whereas, In January, 1996, a record snowstorm struck the
state of West Virginia with devastating effects leaving record
measurements of snow accumulation across the state; and
Whereas, On January 6, 1996, the governor of West Virginia
activated the state Emergency Operations Center of the Office of
Emergency Services where staff and agencies worked around the
clock coordinating with county, federal governmental and other
organizations to provide emergency assistance. The state Office
of Emergency Services was activated on a twenty-four hour basis
in the capitol building; and
Whereas, Since the heavy snowfall affected the entire state, the governor declared a state of emergency in all fifty-five
counties and requested the president of the United States to
declare them disaster areas. On January 13, 1996, the president
responded to the governor's request and made the declaration; and
Whereas, Following the devastating snowstorm, higher than
normal temperatures resulted in a quick melting period which
caused the rivers and streams in twenty-one counties of West
Virginia to overflow their banks causing massive destruction to
homes and businesses in the affected areas. As a result of the
flooding, another declaration of disaster was sought from the
president of the United States; and on January 25, 1996, twenty-
one counties were declared disaster areas with an additional six
counties declared five days later; and
Whereas, Because of the presidential disaster declarations,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) joined with other
federal and state damage assessment teams which greatly benefited
the state in organizing the recovery efforts; and
Whereas, Other agencies and organizations which assisted
with exemplary response to the state of emergency included the
National Guard; American Red Cross; Bureau of Public Health; and
the divisions of Agriculture, Highways, Forestry, Environmental
Protection, State Police and Natural Resources; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby commends the meritorious efforts of
the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services for an outstanding
job performance during the disastrous month of January, 1996,
when heavy snowfall, followed by a deluge of floodwater, placed
many citizens of West Virginia in peril; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate also commends the
meritorious tasks performed by other state, federal and volunteer
organizations, including the National Guard; American Red Cross;
Bureau of Public Health; and the divisions of Agriculture,
Highways, Forestry, Environmental Protection, State Police and
Natural Resources; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby requested to
forward a copy of this resolution to the director of the West
Virginia Office of Emergency Services.