SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 55
(By Senators Fanning, Bailey, Dempsey, Facemyer and Minear)
Requesting the Director of the Office of Emergency Services
immediately repair inoperative Integrated Flood Warning System
rain and stream gauges to a minimum operational efficiency
rating of 90 percent and provide ongoing maintenance.
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 13 states in the eastern district with an
operational efficiency rating over 90 percent; and
Whereas, In July, 2004, the operational efficiency rating was
at 60 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 25 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 Services immediately repair inoperative
Integrated Flood Warning System rain and stream gauges to a minimum
operational efficiency rating of 90 percent and provide ongoing
maintenance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Director of the Office of Emergency
Services report to the Joint Committee 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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