H. Res. 765 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
September 23, 2009. 
Whereas the State of Georgia has been hit by days of unusu-
ally strong storms that have resulted in downpours and 
flooding, beginning on September 18, 2009; 
Whereas numerous Georgia rivers and creeks, including the 
Chattooga and Chattahoochee Rivers and Chickamauga 
Creek, swollen by days of rain, have overtopped their 
banks, creating a dangerous and deadly situation for 
nearby residents; 
Whereas the storms and floods have taken human lives; 
Whereas the floodwater has destroyed homes, flooded road-
ways, including major highways, compromised drinking 
water, severely damaged plumbing systems, and caused 
significant damage to homes and businesses; 
Whereas on September 21, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny 
Perdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties, in-
cluding Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, 
Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, 
Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens, and 
Walker Counties; 
Whereas the National Weather Service estimated that be-
tween 15 and 22 inches of rain have fallen in the metro-
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politan Atlanta counties of Gwinnett, Douglas, and 
Paulding between September 18 and 21, 2009; 
Whereas the rains have broken a 130-year-old record at 
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport; 
Whereas hundreds of Georgians have been evacuated from 
their homes and over 300 people are seeking refuge in 
shelters; 
Whereas the Governor estimates that over 1,000 residences 
are seriously flooded; 
Whereas the weather has closed schools in several counties; 
Whereas as many as tens of thousands of people have been 
without power in metropolitan Atlanta; 
Whereas search and rescue operations are continuing in sev-
eral counties where the water continues to rise; 
Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency has co-
ordinated with local emergency personnel and has worked 
tirelessly to protect human lives and rescue those threat-
ened by the floods; 
Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency con-
tinues to facilitate requests for assistance from citizens 
and first responders all across the State of Georgia; 
Whereas the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and 
other first responders have acted valiantly in life safety 
response operations, including delivering sandbags and 
rescuing people trapped in their cars and homes from the 
floodwater; 
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency has ac-
tivated its national and regional response coordination 
centers and is working closely with the State of Georgia 
to monitor the response efforts and identify and respond
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to any immediate emergency needs for the citizens and 
communities of the State that are impacted by these dev-
astating floods; and 
Whereas volunteers are giving their time to help ensure that 
evacuees are sheltered, clothed, fed, and comforted 
through this traumatic event: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to 
the families of those who lost their lives in the flooding 
in the State of Georgia; 
(2) expresses its condolences to the families who 
lost their homes and other property in the floods; 
(3) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the peo-
ple of the State of Georgia and the surrounding States, 
who continue to work to protect people from the still ris-
ing floodwaters; 
(4) expresses its support as the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency continues its efforts to respond to 
any needs of the citizens and communities affected by 
the flooding; and