IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 402 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2007 
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida (for himself, Mr. MACK, Mr. CRENSHAW, 
Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. 
REYES, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. MILLER of Flor-
ida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mr. 
ETHERIDGE, Mr. MAHONEY of Florida, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of 
Florida, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. KLEIN of Florida, Mr. 
KELLER of Florida, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. LAMPSON, 
Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. WICKER, Mr. JONES of North Caro-
lina, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. 
FORTUN˜O, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. BOYD of Flor-
ida, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. MEEK of Florida, and Mr. BONNER) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science and Technology 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hurricane 
Preparedness Week. 
Whereas the Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane season 
begins June 1 and ends November 30, and the East Pa-
cific hurricane season runs from May 15 through Novem-
ber 30; 
Whereas an average of 11 tropical storms develop per year 
over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:01 May 16, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR402.IH
HR402
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
•HRES 402 IH 
Mexico and an average of 6 of these storms become hur-
ricanes; 
Whereas in an average 3-year period roughly 5 hurricanes 
strike the United States coastline, sometimes resulting in 
multiple deaths, with 2 typically being ‘‘major’’ or ‘‘in-
tense’’ category 3 hurricanes, as measured on the Saffir- 
Simpson Hurricane Scale; 
Whereas millions of Americans face great risk from tropical 
storms or hurricanes, because 50 percent of Americans 
live along the coast and millions of tourists visit the 
oceans each year; 
Whereas the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the busiest 
on record and extends the active hurricane cycle that 
began in 1995—a trend experts agree is likely to con-
tinue for years to come; 
Whereas the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season included 28 
named storms, including 15 hurricanes in which 7 were 
category 3 or higher; 
Whereas, during a hurricane, homes, businesses, public build-
ings, and infrastructure may be damaged or destroyed by 
heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge; debris can 
break windows and doors; roads and bridges can be 
washed away; homes can be flooded; and destructive tor-
nadoes can occur well away from the storm’s center; 
Whereas experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration’s National Hurricane Center in the Na-
tional Weather Service agree that it is critical to know 
if you live in a hurricane prone area, to know your 
home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind, 
and to develop a written family disaster plan based on 
this knowledge; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:01 May 16, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR402.IH
HR402
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
•HRES 402 IH 
Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
people in hurricane-prone areas prepare a personal evacu-
ation plan that identifies ahead of time their home’s vul-
nerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind; the safest 
areas in their home for each hurricane hazard; several 
options of places to go if ordered to evacuate; and the 
telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map 
of the local area; 
Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
people in hurricane-prone areas assemble a disaster sup-
ply kit before hurricane season begins that includes a 
first aid kit and essential medications; canned food and 
can opener; at least three gallons of water per person per 
day for three to seven days; protective clothing, rainwear, 
and bedding or sleeping bags; a battery-powered radio, 
flashlight, and extra batteries; special items (including 
medications) for infants, elderly, or disabled family mem-
bers; and written instructions on how to turn off elec-
tricity, gas, and water in case authorities advise these ac-
tions; 
Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
prior to hurricane season people prepare for high winds 
by installing hurricane shutters or having available precut 
outdoor plywood boards for each window of a home; en-
suring they can reinforce garage doors; and making trees 
more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged 
limbs; 
Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
citizens know that the term ‘‘Hurricane Watch’’ means 
hurricane conditions are possible in the specified area of 
the Watch, usually within 36 hours, and that the term 
‘‘Hurricane Warning’’ means hurricane conditions are ex-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:01 May 16, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR402.IH
HR402
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
•HRES 402 IH 
pected in the specified area of the Warning, usually with-
in 24 hours; 
Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
people know what to do when a Hurricane Watch is 
issued, that is, listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local 
radio or TV stations for up-to-date storm information; 
prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor deco-
rations, and anything that can be picked up by the wind; 
prepare to cover all windows of their homes and reinforce 
their garage door; fill their car’s gas tank; recheck manu-
factured home tie-downs; and recheck their disaster sup-
ply kit; 
Whereas the National Hurricane Center recommends that 
people know what to do when a Hurricane Warning is 
issued, that is, listen to the advice of local officials, and 
leave if told to do so; complete preparation activities; if 
they are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from 
windows; be aware that the calm ‘‘eye’’ is deceptive and 
does not mean the storm is over; and be alert for torna-
does; 
Whereas in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, inland flooding was re-
sponsible for more than half of the deaths associated with 
tropical storms and hurricanes in the United States and 
the National Weather Service recommends that when a 
hurricane threatens the United States, people determine 
whether they live in a potential flood zone; if advised to 
evacuate, do so immediately; keep abreast of road condi-
tions through the news media; move to a safe area before 
access is cut off by flood water; do not attempt to cross 
flowing water because as little as six inches of water may 
cause one to lose control of a vehicle; and develop a flood 
emergency action plan; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:01 May 16, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR402.IH
HR402
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
•HRES 402 IH 
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion provides more detailed information about hurricanes 
and hurricane preparedness via its website http:// 
www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/; and 
Whereas a National Hurricane Preparedness Week will be the 
week of May 20–26, 2007: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
Hurricane Preparedness Week; 
(2) encourages the staff of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, especially at 
the National Weather Service and the National Hur-
ricane Center, and other appropriate Federal agen-
cies, to continue their outstanding work to educate 
people in the United States about hurricane pre-
paredness; and 
(3) urges the people of the United States to 
recognize such a week as an opportunity to learn 
more about the work of the National Hurricane Cen-
ter to forecast hurricanes and to educate citizens 
about the potential risks associated with hurricanes. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:01 May 16, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR402.IH
HR402
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS