COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56
(By Delegates Boggs, Brown, Browning, Craig, Louisos,
Morgan, Stemple, Swartzmiller, Armstead, Blair, Duke,
Overington, Stevens and Walters)
(Originating in the Committee on Rules)
[March 25, 2005]
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 or more 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, On March 23, 2005, only 77% of all rain gauges were
operational, up from 76% in January 2005 and 73% in December 2004;
and
Whereas, There are a number of counties which, on March 23,
2005, had twenty-five percent or more of all rain gauges
inoperative. Those counties include: Mercer with no working rain
gauge; McDowell with 75% of its rain gauges not working; Barbour
with 50% of its rain gauges not working; Mingo with 38% of its rain
gauges not working; Randolph with 32% of its rain gauges not
working and Pocahontas with 28% of its rain gauges not working; 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 criterion 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 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
Services 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
Services report back to the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance on or before the first day of June, 2005, and thereafter as
may be required, as to the operational efficiency of the IFLOWS
network; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
send a copy of this Resolution to the Governor, the Secretary of
the Department of Military Affairs and the Director of the Office
of Emergency Services.