National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2004

Proclamation 7786 of May 14, 2004

National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2004

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful forces,
bringing destructive winds, tornadoes, and floods from
torrential rains and ocean storm surges. Each year,
several hurricanes develop off American shores in the
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Some
of these strike the United States coastline every year,
causing numerous fatalities and costing billions of
dollars in damage. Many Americans are vulnerable to the
dangers of these storms.

In recent years, advances in how we predict and track
these storms have improved preparedness and saved
lives, but people living in hurricane-prone areas still
must be prepared. The National Hurricane Center within
the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends developing
a family disaster plan, creating a disaster supply kit,
and staying aware of current weather situations.

While citizens make preparations to keep themselves
safe, the Federal Government is maintaining our
commitment to improve forecasts to provide advance
warning and to coordinate effective emergency response.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency
Management Agency is also working on a plan to better
position disaster equipment and supplies, so Federal
resources to support local emergency services arrive
quickly.

While no policy can eliminate the threat that
hurricanes pose to lives and property, cooperation
among citizens and Federal, State, and local officials
can reduce the dangers and provide a more effective
response to these storms.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim May 16 through May 22, 2004,
as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I call upon
government agencies, private organizations, schools,
news media, and residents in hurricane-prone areas to
share information about hurricane preparedness and
response, and to implement steps to minimize storm
damage and save lives. I also call upon Americans
living in the coastal areas of our Nation to use this
opportunity to learn more about how to protect
themselves against the effects of hurricanes and
tropical storms.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand four, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

(Presidential Sig.)B