HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56
(By Delegates Boggs, Brown, Browning, Craig, Louisos,
Morgan, Stemple, Swartzmiller, Armstead, Blair, Duke,
Overington, Stevens and Walters)
Requesting the Director of the Office of Emergency Services to
immediately repair inoperative IFLOWS rain and stream gauges
to a minimum operational efficiency rating of ninety percent
and to provide ongoing maintenance to keep the operational
efficiency rating at ninety percent at all times.
Whereas, The Office of Emergency Services operates the
Integrated Flood Warning System known as IFLOWS which is made up of
a computer operated communications network and rain and stream
gauges; and
Whereas, Flood warnings and flood watches in West Virginia are
issued by the National Weather Service based upon information
obtained from IFLOWS rain and stream gauges located throughout the
state; and
Whereas, Advanced flood warning is critical to saving lives,
reducing property damage and reducing disruption of commerce and
human activities; and
Whereas, In July, 2003, the National Weather Service recognized
West Virginia as having the largest and most reliable IFLOWS
network of the thirteen states in the eastern district with an
operational efficiency rating over ninety percent; and
Whereas, In July, 2004, the operational efficiency rating was at sixty percent and remained at the same level four months later;
and
Whereas, The National Weather Service has been providing an
annual grant to the IFLOWS program which provides nearly twenty-
five percent of program funding; and
Whereas, Beginning this year, IFLOWS grants to states are being
competitively awarded on merit and the ability of a state to
maintain its IFLOWS network is a key criteria by which a state will
be judged; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Director of the
Office of Emergency Management to immediately repair inoperative
IFLOWS rain and stream gauges to a minimum operational efficiency
rating of ninety percent; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Director of the Office of Emergency
Management provide ongoing maintenance to keep the operational
efficiency rating of rain and stream gauges at ninety percent at
all time; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Director of the Office of Emergency
Management report back to the Joint Commission on Government and
Finance on or before the first day of June, 2004, and thereafter as
may be required, as to the operational efficiency of the IFLOWS
network.
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