They are tired of paying the prices emotionally and financially. And they are ready to take action. Government, community and business leaders in the big cities and the small towns are ready to work in new ways and in new partnerships to change the way America prepares for and prevents disasters. These new alliances, this new approach, couldn't be more timely. Over the past decade, our weather has gotten worse.
Concern also continues to to grow about earthquakes and other geologic hazards.
We believe the critical need to respond to this is to implement measures that reduce or prevent the losses natural hazards cause. Before I close my remarks, I'd like to give a few examples for you to think about. That brewery serves the company's markets throughout the Southwest and Pacific regions. Because of the earthquake threat at that location, the company decided before the Northridge quake occurred to conduct a risk assessment of the facility, and take action to prepare themselves. On a smaller scale, I want to tell you a story about the Grahams.