2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 55
BY SENATOR MORRISH
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To designate the week of September 1 through September 7, 2019, as Resiliency Week in
Louisiana.
WHEREAS, hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by
lessening the impact of disasters, such as the 2016 floods in Louisiana and numerous recent
hurricanes and storms, and it is most effective when implemented under a comprehensive,
long-term mitigation plan; and
WHEREAS, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, administered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is designed to assist states and local communities
in implementing a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program; and
WHEREAS, federal legislation recently signed into law, the Disaster Recovery
Reform Act, makes available new dollars for states and communities to undertake pre-
disaster mitigation measures and creates new incentives for states to build resiliently; and
WHEREAS, since 1908, natural disasters have cost this country more than one
trillion dollars; and
WHEREAS, disasters affect local and state economies in lost payrolls, lost sales and
income tax revenue, and increased disaster recovery times; and
WHEREAS, according to a FEMA-commissioned study conducted by the National
Institute of Building Sciences, every dollar spent on hazard mitigation provides the nation
with six dollars in future benefits; and
WHEREAS, twenty-five percent of small businesses impacted by a natural disaster
never reopen their doors; and
WHEREAS, September is National Preparedness Month in recognition of the need
for all Americans to prepare and plan for recovery after a disaster; and
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WHEREAS, mitigation planning is a key process used to break the cycle of disaster
damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage; and
WHEREAS, effective pre-disaster mitigation reduces the demand for relief services
on volunteer organizations such as disaster rescue and recovery teams, along with food
banks and homeless shelters that serve communities by changing their operations to provide
additional services to those affected by disaster; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature honors brave women and men who, as first
responders, selflessly provide aid in a disaster to safeguard the lives of the people; and
WHEREAS, the legislature encourages Louisiana communities to build resiliently
and develop long-range mitigation strategies for protecting people and property, particularly
in a state that has widespread low elevations and is threatened by hurricanes nearly every
year.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
designate the week of September 1 through September 7, 2019, as Resiliency Week in
Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Paul T. Martin, Regional Vice President of NAMIC.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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