PRINTER'S NO. 1183
No. 188 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, M. WHITE, PIPPY, COSTA, BOSCOLA,
ERICKSON, RHOADES, RAFFERTY, LOGAN, TARTAGLIONE, PILEGGI,
REGOLA, ARMSTRONG, C. WILLIAMS, O'PAKE, EARLL, STACK AND
LEMMOND, OCTOBER 3, 2005
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
OCTOBER 3, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the
2 Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security, in conjunction with
3 any other State agency involved with emergency response and
4 preparedness, to review and develop plans to address any
5 natural disaster or terrorist attack which would impact our
6 water resources and infrastructure.
7 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's chief natural resource is its water;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth contains more than 83,000 miles of
10 rivers and streams, eight major river basins and nearly 4,000
11 lakes, reservoirs and ponds; and
12 WHEREAS, Our water resources provide clean drinking water to
13 millions of residents and meet the needs of business, community
14 and recreational users; and
15 WHEREAS, Several thousand dams have been constructed in this
16 Commonwealth for various purposes, including recreation, water
17 supply and flood control, but many of these dams are old and in
18 need of repair; and
1 WHEREAS, In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, questions have
2 been raised about the lack of preparedness and responsiveness on
3 the part of Federal, State and local officials to a natural
4 disaster; and
5 WHEREAS, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, experienced a natural
6 disaster in 1889 when a dam gave way to heavy rain and flooded
7 the town, killing more than 2,000 people and destroying 1,600
8 homes and 280 businesses; and
9 WHEREAS, As a result of the attacks on our nation on
10 September 11, 2001, the Commonwealth must be prepared to prevent
11 and respond to serious threats of terrorism directed at our
12 water resources and infrastructure; therefore be it
13 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Pennsylvania Emergency
14 Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland
15 Security, in conjunction with any other State agency involved
16 with emergency response and preparedness, to review and develop
17 plans to address any natural disaster or terrorist attack which
18 would impact our water resources and infrastructure; and be it
19 further
20 RESOLVED, That the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
21 and the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security, in conjunction
22 with any other State agency involved with emergency response and
23 preparedness, be urged to present its findings, along with any
24 recommendations requiring legislative action, to the General
25 Assembly; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
27 the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and
28 the Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security.
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