The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TSUNAMI READINESS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2472 on Dec. 7, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TSUNAMI READINESS
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HON. FRANK R. WOLF
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, today I shared the letter below from Admiral Lautenbacher, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to all U.S. coastal governors as well as the governors of U.S. territories.
During a recent radio broadcast, I heard a NOAA official state that it was not a question of if a tsunami would hit the United States, but when. The letter below from Admiral Lautenbacher confirms this statement.
It is my hope that our coastal states will contact the NOAA National Weather Service state liaison to receive more information about NOAA's TsunamiReady program.
It was only one year ago that the deadly tsunami struck Indonesia. We must not forget this tragedy and should remember how important it is to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
United States Department of Commerce, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere,
Washington, DC, November 22, 2005.Hon. Frank Wolf,House of Representatives,Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) tsunami education and community preparedness programs.
All coastal communities in the United States are at some risk. It is a matter of when, not if, a tsunami will strike. The anniversary of the devastating Indonesian tsunami of December 26, 2004, can serve as an opportunity to educate residents of the United States about our vulnerability to tsunamis, and help them minimize personal risk.
Many lives can be saved during a tsunami if the community and local emergency managers are educated and prepared. NOAA has a ready-to-implement program available to coastal communities called TsunamiReady. The TsunamiReady program helps ensure a community is prepared--from understanding what is a tsunami, to ensuring a warning notification system is in place, and establishing evacuation routes and response actions in case of a tsunami warning.
One key to a successful warning program is public notification. TsunamiReady uses NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) as one method to alert individuals when a warning is issued. NOAA Weather Radio continuously broadcasts National Weather Service forecasts, warnings, and other crucial weather information. NOAA Weather Radios can be programmed to receive information specific to a certain area, and sounds an alarm to alert users to dangerous situations, including tsunamis.
For further information, please contact Kim Campbell
([email protected]), NOAA's National Weather Service Performance and Awareness Branch Chief, at (301) 713-0462 extension 118, or the appropriate State Liaison office from the enclosed list.
We appreciate your ongoing interest in NOAA.
Sincerely,
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather
Service State Liaison Offices
Alaska: Anchorage, Robert Hopkins, Tel. 907-266-5117: Juneau, Tom Ainsworth, Tel. 907-790-6804.
Alabama: Birmingham, Jim Stefkovich, Tel. 205-664-7829.
California: Sacramento, Elizabeth A. Morse, Tel. 916-979-3041.
Connecticut: Boston, MA, Robert M. Thompson, Tel. 508-823-1900.
Delaware: Philadelphia, PA, Gary Szatkowski, Tel. 609-261-6600.
Florida: Tallahassee, Paul Duval, Tel. 850-942-8833.
Georgia: Atlanta, Lans Rothfusz, Tel. 770-486-1133.
Hawaii: Honolulu, James Weyman, Tel. 808-973-5270.
Louisiana: New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Paul S. Trotter, Tel. 985-649-0357.
Maine: Portland, Albert W. Wheeler, Tel. 207-688-3216.
Maryland: Baltimore/Washington, James Lee, Tel. 703-260-0107.
Massachusetts: Boston, Robert M. Thompson, Tel. 508-823-1900.
Mississippi: Jackson, Alan Gerard, Tel. 601-936-2189.
New Hampshire: Portland, ME, Albert W. Wheeler, Tel. 207-688-3216.
New Jersey: Philadelphia, PA, Gary Szatkowski, Tel. 609-261-6600.
New York: Albany, Eugene Auciello, Tel. 518-435-9580.
North Carolina: Raleigh/Durham, Darin Figurskey, Tel. 919-515-8209.
Oregon: Portland, Steve Todd, Tel. 503-261-9247.
Rhode Island: Boston, MA, Robert M. Thompson, Tel. 508-823-1900.
South Carolina: Charleston, Mike Emlaw, Tel. 843-744-3207.
Texas: Austin/San Antonio, Joe Arelano, Tel. 830-629-0130.
Virginia: Wakefield, Anthony Siebers, Tel. 757.899-4200.
Washington: Seattle/Tacoma, Christopher D. Hill, Tel. 206-526-6095.
Puerto Rico: San Juan, Israel Matos, Tel. 787-253-4586.
Guam: Guam, Genevieve Miller, Tel. 671-472-0944.
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