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TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 1 THROUGH 7, 2019 AS "NATURAL DISASTER RESILIENCY WEEK" IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN ORDER TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE CONTINUING NEED TO PLAN FOR FUTURE DISASTERS BY INSTITUTING A PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION STRATEGY.
Whereas, hazard mitigation is the effort to lessen the impact of disasters, particularly with regard to reducing any loss of life or property. 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, 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 the country more than one trillion dollars; and
Whereas, disasters affect local and state economies through lost payrolls, lost sales and income tax, and increased recovery times; and
Whereas, according to a study commissioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 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 that are 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
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, food banks, and homeless shelters, which serve our communities by changing their operations to provide additional services to those affected by disasters; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate honor the brave men and women who, as first responders, selflessly provide aid in a disaster; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate encourage communities throughout the State to build resiliently and develop long-range mitigation strategies for protecting people and property from future hazard events. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize September 1 through 7, 2019 as "Natural Disaster Resiliency Week" in South Carolina in order to raise public awareness about the continuing need to plan for future disasters by instituting a pre-disaster mitigation strategy.
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