H. Res. 657 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

October 2, 2007. 

Whereas during August 2007, severe thunderstorms were responsible for bringing as much as 18 inches of torrential 

rain to parts of the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, 

Ohio, and Wisconsin, resulting in devastating floods; 

Whereas these storms tragically took the lives of 14 people; 

Whereas these storms injured countless other people, damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated 

businesses and institutions; 

Whereas on August 21, 2007, the Governor of Minnesota declared Fillmore, Houston, Steele, Olmsted, Wabasha, and 

Winona Counties, Minnesota, to be in a state of disaster 

as a result of these storms, and subsequently Dodge 

County, Minnesota, received a Federal major disaster 

declaration as well; 

Whereas on August 19, 2007, and in the days following, the 

Governor of Wisconsin declared Crawford, La Crosse, 

Richland, Sauk, Vernon, Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, 

Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Racine, and Rock Counties, 

Wisconsin, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these 

storms; 

Whereas on August 22, 2007, and in the days following, the 

Governor of Iowa declared Appanoose, Boone, Calhoun, 
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Cherokee, Davis, Humboldt, Mahaska, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, and Webster Counties, Iowa, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these 

storms; 

Whereas on August 22, 2007, the Governor of Ohio declared 

Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, 

Seneca, Van Wert, and Wyandot Counties, Ohio, to be in 

a state of disaster as a result of these storms; 

Whereas on August 24, 2007, and in the days following, the 

Governor of Illinois declared Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, 

Grundy, Lake, LaSalle, Kane, Knox, McHenry, Warren, 

and Will Counties, Illinois, to be in a state of disaster as 

a result of these storms; 

Whereas President Bush declared 7 counties in Minnesota, 7 

counties in Ohio, and 7 counties in Wisconsin to be major 

disaster areas as a result of these storms, and individuals 

and families in these areas became eligible for Federal 

disaster assistance; 

Whereas numerous individuals and entities have selflessly and 

heroically given of themselves and their resources to aid 

in the disaster relief efforts; and 

Whereas the catastrophic injury, death, and damage in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin would have 

been even worse in the absence of local relief efforts: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims of 

the devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during August 2007 in the States of Illinois, Iowa, 

Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; 
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(2) conveys gratitude to the local, State, and Federal officials and emergency personnel who responded 

swiftly to the crisis, including emergency management 

teams in each of the affected States, Michael Chertoff, 

Secretary of Homeland Security, and David Paulison, 

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency; 

(3) recognizes the generous and selfless support of 

citizens, local businesses, the American Red Cross, the 

United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army; 

and 

(4) reaffirms support to helping the victims of the 

flooding rebuild their homes and lives. 

Attest: 

Clerk.