Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Texas House Bill HR964 Compare Versions

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1	1	83R12905 BPG-D
2	2	By: Workman H.R. No. 964
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5	5	R E S O L U T I O N
6	6	WHEREAS, Most of Texas is suffering extreme drought, and the
7	7	state climatologist has warned that the forecast tilts toward a
8	8	continuing rainfall deficit and higher temperatures that increase
9	9	the risk of intense wildfires; and
10	10	WHEREAS, In 2011, nearly 3,000 homes in Texas were lost to
11	11	wildfires; the Bastrop County Complex fire alone destroyed over
12	12	1,600 homes, burned more than 34,000 acres, and resulted in losses
13	13	of $400 million, while claiming two lives; and
14	14	WHEREAS, Prolonged drought conditions are now bringing
15	15	wildfires even to communities that may not have experienced this
16	16	hazard in recent memory; over the past two years, 85 percent of
17	17	wildfires in Texas have occurred within two miles of an established
18	18	community; moreover, the majority of new development in Texas is
19	19	occurring at the wildland-urban interface, where homes and other
20	20	structures intersect with undeveloped areas that contain flammable
21	21	grass, brush, and trees; and
22	22	WHEREAS, The National Fire Protection Association drew on
23	23	research in physical fire science and human behavior to create the
24	24	Firewise Communities program, which encourages local solutions for
25	25	wildfire safety; the program teaches people how to adapt to living
26	26	with wildfire and how to collaborate effectively to help protect
27	27	people and property; working with partners such as state forestry
28	28	and local fire departments, program participants plan, organize,
29	29	and conduct activities that improve their wildfire safety, and each
30	30	community can address its specific needs using a flexible template;
31	31	the Texas A&M Forest Service supports the program in this state
32	32	through its educational initiatives and by providing a staff of
33	33	wildland-urban interface specialists to advise applicants and
34	34	members; and
35	35	WHEREAS, Since 2003, this voluntary program has documented
36	36	over $76 million in local wildfire safety measures; more than 700
37	37	communities in 40 states are active members, and in Texas, nearly 60
38	38	communities have received the Firewise designation by obtaining a
39	39	risk assessment, creating an action plan, conducting a public
40	40	education event, and completing a community project that decreases
41	41	the threat of wildfire; and
42	42	WHEREAS, Wildfires are a growing source of concern across the
43	43	Lone Star State due to extended drought and rapid urbanization, but
44	44	residents can reduce the risk to lives and property by taking
45	45	meaningful action through membership in Firewise Communities; now,
46	46	therefore, be it
47	47	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
48	48	Legislature hereby encourage participation in the National Fire
49	49	Protection Association's Firewise Communities program; and, be it
50	50	further
51	51	RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the House of
52	52	Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to Texas
53	53	Community Association Advocates, to the Texas Association of
54	54	Counties, and to the Texas Municipal League.