Each committee only handles a piece of the overall efforts to prevent and mitigate natural disasters. A successful caucus reflects a strong partnership between its congressional members and groups outside Congress that share similar interests. This white paper is intended to provide the work group's perspective on key issues that the caucus can effectively address in its next session as well as long-term goals. No part of the country is free from natural hazards, whether they be hurricanes in North Carolina, earthquakes in California, flooding in Missouri, wildfires in Montana, or landslides in Alaska. All states are vulnerable.
Hurricanes continue to deliver mounting losses, both human and financial.
Last year, Hurricane Floyd forced the evacuation of 4 million people, forcing 10,000 into shelters. The damage cost estimates are still coming in a year later. Over 75 million Americans live in metropolitan areas that are subject to high or moderate earthquake risk. Tornadoes are a significant threat, particularly to states in the mid-continent. An average of 1,000 tornadoes are reported each year across the United States, taking 80 lives and causing over 1,500 injuries.