For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 16, 2003
National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Destructive winds, tornadoes, torrential rains, ocean water storm
surges, and flooding make hurricanes one of nature's most extreme
hazards. As hurricane season approaches, Americans who live in
hurricane-prone areas must prepare to help ensure their safety and
minimize damage to their communities.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and continues through
November 30. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), an average of 10 tropical storms develop in the Atlantic Ocean,
Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, and 6 become hurricanes each year.
In the past 2 years alone, 9 tropical storms and 1 hurricane hit our
country, causing 54 deaths and more than $6 billion in damages. While
we cannot stop these storms from occurring, we can take steps to limit
our vulnerability. Being aware of the dangers of tropical storms and
hurricanes and knowing what to do to mitigate their devastating effects
are our best defenses.
Federal, State, and local agencies across America are working
diligently to prepare our communities for natural disasters. Beginning
this year, NOAA's hurricane forecasts will look 5 days into the future,
rather than 3 days. This enhanced forecasting ability, combined with
efforts to improve the accuracy of hurricane warnings, enables coastal
residents and emergency personnel to more effectively prepare for a
storm's arrival. In addition, Federal agencies such as FEMA and
organizations such as the American Red Cross have teamed up with State
and local agencies, rescue and relief organizations, the private
sector, and the news media to distribute information to the public and
coordinate efforts before, during, and after a tropical storm or
hurricane has struck.
To help individuals prepare for an approaching tropical storm or
hurricane, FEMA recommends practical measures, to make sure that homes
and businesses are ready by developing a plan for what to do; securing
loose objects and protecting property by covering glass with plywood or
shutters; and creating a disaster supply kit with flashlights, a
battery-powered radio, food that does not need refrigeration, water,
and first aid supplies. The National Weather Service also encourages
acquiring a weather radio equipped with the Specific Area Message
Encoder feature that provides automatic alerts when important weather
information is issued for an area. For more information on how to
prepare for the ravages of hazardous weather, you can go to the
National Weather Service website at www.nws.noaa.gov.
Millions of Americans are at risk of being personally affected by a
tropical storm or hurricane. More than one in six Americans in the
continental United States lives along the Eastern Atlantic or Gulf of
Mexico coast, and millions of
tourists visit these areas annually. Because of the growing
populations in coastal areas, it is essential that Americans prepare
for hurricanes and other natural disasters. During National Hurricane
Awareness Week, we promote awareness of these weather hazards, organize
our efforts, and work to improve our ability to endure and survive
tropical storms and hurricanes.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 18 through May
24, 2003, as National Hurricane Awareness Week. I call upon government
agencies, private organizations, schools, and news media in
hurricane-prone areas to share information about hurricane preparedness
and response in order to help prevent storm damage and save lives. I
also call upon Americans living in these coastal areas of our Nation to
use this opportunity to learn more about how to protect themselves
against the effects of hurricanes and tropical storms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day
of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-seventh.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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