H. R. 20
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegates Martin, Stemple, Boggs, Border, Ashley, Beane, Azinger, Facemyer, Amores, Capito, Harrison, Henderson, Hunt, Farris, Miller, Rowe, Seacrist, Spencer, Walters, Webb, Dalton, Hubbard, Jenkins, Johnson, Leach, Smirl, Underwood, Clements, Damron, Willison, Hall, Kelley
and Leggett)


H. R. 20 -- "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 causing 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 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 House of Delegates:
That the House 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 of the House 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.