SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 31
(Senators Walker, Tomblin, Mr. President, Anderson, Bailey, Ball,
Boley, Bowman, Buckalew, Chafin, Craigo, Deem, Dittmar, Dugan,
Fanning, Helmick, Hunter, Jackson, Kimble, Love, Macnaughtan,
McKenzie, Minear, Oliverio, Plymale, Prezioso, Ross, Schoonover,
Scott, Sharpe, Snyder, Sprouse, White, Wiedebusch, and Wooton)
Recognizing the outstanding service of all federal, state, county
and municipal governmental agencies, volunteers and volunteer
organizations for their meritorious service during the
disastrous flooding of 1997.
Whereas, Rainfall during late February and early March, 1997,
caused many rivers and streams in West Virginia to rise above their
banks and intrude into the lives of thousands of our citizens; and
Whereas, The early warning of the national weather service
provided the citizens of West Virginia time to prepare for
impending flooding; and
Whereas, As the water began to rise and the early warnings of
possible flooding announced, members of local county and municipal
emergency response personnel were activated in preparation of the
impending disaster; and
Whereas, Many West Virginia citizens rallied to assist their
neighbors, placing their own lives in danger for the safety of
others; and
Whereas, The United States Army Corps of Engineers began their
process of recording water levels in West Virginia rivers and
streams; and
Whereas, As the rains continued to fall, the governor of West
Virginia activated emergency operations within the state, activated
the West Virginia National Guard and the Office of Emergency
Services to respond to the call of assistance of the affected areas
and made assessments in preparation of requesting the president of
the United States to issue declarations of disaster in the affected
areas; and
Whereas, When the rains ceased, sixteen of West Virginia's
fifty-five counties' rivers and streams had overflowed their banks
had causinged massive destruction to homes and businesses; and
Whereas, On March 7, 1997, the counties of Braxton, Cabell,
Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam,
Roane, Tyler, Wayne, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood were declared disaster
areas by the president of the United States, making the citizens of
the affected areas eligible for assistance from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and,
Whereas, Much appreciation in any emergency should go to the
local response teams, such as local emergency services, sheriff and
police departments, fire and volunteer fire departments, whose
quick response to local emergencies have saved the lives of many West Virginia citizens; and
Whereas, The response of federal and state agencies, such as
the National Weather Service; United States Army Corps of
Engineers, the West Virginia National Guard, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency; the Bureau of Public Health; the West Virginia
Office of Emergency Services; the divisions of Agriculture,
Highways, Forestry, Environmental Protection, State Police and
Natural Resources, and organizations such as the American Red
Cross, all help to make the tragedy of a disaster a little more
bearable by the citizens who are affected; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby commends the meritorious service of all
federal, state, county and municipal governmental agencies and
volunteer organizations for an outstanding job performance during
the disastrous flooding of March, 1997, which placed many of our
citizens in peril, and caused tremendous damage to homes and
businesses in the affected areas of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the appropriate officials of each of
the federal, state, county, municipal governmental agencies and
volunteer organizations who contributed their service to the
citizens of West Virginia during the disastrous flooding of March,
1997.