PRINTER'S NO. 2793
No. 468 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI,
CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, COSTA, CRAHALLA, DeLUCA, DENLINGER,
DeWEESE, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GOOD, GOODMAN,
GRUCELA, HERMAN, JAMES, KOTIK, LaGROTTA, LEDERER, MANN,
MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, McGILL, MUNDY, PALLONE, PETRONE,
PHILLIPS, PISTELLA, READSHAW, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, STABACK,
SURRA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, VEON, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD,
YUDICHAK AND WHEATLEY, OCTOBER 17, 2005
To Calendar under Rule 35-Uncontested Calendar October 17, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging PEMA to review emergency preparedness.
2 WHEREAS, The recent tragic events occurring in the wake of
3 Hurricane Katrina throughout the Gulf Coast region have
4 demonstrated the importance of a thorough and realistic plan for
5 emergency evacuation; and
6 WHEREAS, Elderly and disabled residents face unique
7 challenges in securing transportation in the event of an
8 emergency evacuation; and
9 WHEREAS, Individuals without access to vehicles face
10 excessive difficulties safely evacuating in the event of an
11 emergency; and
12 WHEREAS, More than 600,000 individuals in this Commonwealth
13 have no access to a personal vehicle; and
14 WHEREAS, Due in part to our mountainous terrain and our
1 nation-leading 45,000-mile network of rivers, creeks and
2 streams, Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the most flood-
3 prone states; and
4 WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Pennsylvania
5 Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to help State, county and
6 municipal governments prepare for and respond to disasters; and
7 WHEREAS, Effective evacuation requires a realistic assessment
8 of the State's needs and the available resources; therefore be
9 it
10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge PEMA to
11 review emergency evacuation preparedness and ensure that
12 sufficient planning, resources and communication exist to
13 provide for the safe evacuation of all residents, including
14 those with unique transportation needs such as the elderly and
15 individuals with disabilities; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That PEMA intensify its disaster emergency
17 communications system; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That PEMA work with mayors and municipal
19 governments throughout this Commonwealth to ensure systematic
20 evacuations and communications in areas affected by a disaster.
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