A recent story at American Thinker revealed that an acclaimed environmental studies professor contends those who do not believe humans are causing global warming are mentally ill and need to be "treated."

Keri Norgaard teaches at the University of Oregon and is the author of Living in Denial: Climate Change, Emotions and Everyday Life.  In her book she compares global warming skepticism to racism, arguing that there is a "cultural resistance" that keeps some people from acknowledging that humans are responsible for global warming.  This condition, she claims, "...must be recognized and treated" as an aberrant sociological behavior.

Norgaard also claims, "Climate change poses a massive threat to our present social, economic and political order.  From a sociological perspective, resistance to change is to be expected." She continues, saying, "This kind of cultural resistance to a very significant social threat is something that we would expect in any society facing a massive threat."

Norgaard even goes so far as to say that such cultural resistance to accepting the theory of anthropogenic global warming is comparable to what happened when slavery was challenged in the Southern United States.

Norgaard has been making such radical pronouncements for years.  In a 2009 interview with Wired magazine, she said, "Global warming...threatens the survival of our species,"

Translated, she's saying that if we don't do something, we're all gonna die.

But Norgaard is not a lone voice of reckless eco-rhetoric.  In fact, green scaremongering is a common practice amongst those in the environmental movement; and such comments have the potential to incite societal panic.

After the shooting of Arizona Congressional Representative Gabrielle Giffords there was a call to tone down the violent political rhetoric, which Democratic congressional members claimed was originating from the right.

Democratic National Committee Chairperson and Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz took to the cameras of CNN, stating, "Words matter."  She then reminded her fellow public servants that, "In terms of civility and tone we have to set an example."

It's too bad the congresswoman won't have the same conversation with her friends in the environmental community.  Let's start at the top with an outlandish quote from Al Gore:

"Global warming, along with the cutting and burning of forests and other critical habitats, is causing the loss of living species at a level comparable to the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.  That event was believed to have been caused by a giant asteroid.  This time it is not an asteroid colliding with the Earth and wreaking havoc: it is us."

If such an asteroid really did slam into the earth, it's thought that the impact would have been thousands of times more powerful than the largest nuclear bomb.  The Nobel Laureate is threatening the public with a catastrophe that defies the imagination. Gore is engaging in dangerous speech that could cause an unbalanced mind to go wobbly and do something awful.

Let's go next to Al's friend, NASA director James Hansen.

"The climate is nearing tipping points," he said in a 2009 opinion piece published in one of London's most popular newspapers. "Changes are beginning to appear and there is a potential for explosive changes, effects that would be irreversible, if we do not rapidly slow fossil-fuel emissions over the next few decades."

Hansen next describes the apocalyptic warning signs.

"As species are exterminated by shifting climate zones, ecosystems can collapse, destroying more species."

Hansen then reveals the primary demon behind such environmental evil-coal.

"Coal is not only the largest fossil fuel reservoir of carbon dioxide, it is the dirtiest fuel. Coal is polluting the world's oceans and streams with mercury, arsenic and other dangerous chemicals... The trains carrying coal to power plants are death trains.  Coal-fired power plants are factories of death.

Folks, this is a director of NASA speaking.  An irrational mind might just take this maniacal rhetoric to heart, and strap him-or her-to the train tracks in an attempt to halt such a "death train."

NASA isn't the only federal agency associated with climate scare mongering; the Environmental Protection Agency is also in on the game.  Posted on the EPA's website is a list of Frequently Asked Questions on global warming.  In one response the agency declares, "Climate change health effects are especially serious for the very young, very old, or for those with heart and respiratory problems."

Another EPA document states, "...climate change will likely increase the number of people suffering from illness and injury due to floods, storms, droughts, and fires, as well as allergies and infectious diseases."[1]

Quite frankly, we should be grateful more people don't react to such wild comments the way a few have.

In 2010 James Jay Lee executed a dangerous hostage plot inside the headquarters of the Discovery Channel.  Armed with what appeared to be pipe bombs and a cheap pistol, Lee claimed to have been "awakened" by Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth.  Lee regarded humans as the "most destructive, filthy, pollutive creatures around."  His desire was to force the Discovery Channel to fill its programming schedule with "solutions to save the planet."  Before he was able to harm innocent life, Lee was shot and killed by police.

Lee is not the first eco-freak to go off the deep end.  In 2005, four years after 9/11, the FBI declared eco-terrorism to be America's number one domestic threat.

Of course the most notorious eco-terrorist is Ted Kaczynski-the Unabomber.  Over a seventeen year period during the Eighties and Nineties Kaczynski sent out mail bombs, killing three people and wounding twenty-two.  He also managed to sneak a bomb onto a 747 passenger jet flying from Chicago to Washington D.C.  Fortunately the bomb didn't go off as planned.  Kaczynski's reign ended in 1996, shortly after he made public his now-infamous manifesto written in his tiny cabin located in the back woods of western Montana.  In it he opined, "One of the effects of the intrusion of industrial society has been that over much of the world traditional controls on population have been thrown out of balance.  Hence, the population explosion, with all that it implies...No one knows what will happen as a result of ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect and other environmental problems that cannot yet be foreseen."

And discovered by the FBI in the Unabomber's hovel?  A well-worn copy of Al Gore's, Earth In The Balance.  Kaczynski apparently was quite taken by Gore's missive.  The Unabomber's copy of Earth In The Balance was dog-eared, underlined, marked and well worn.

The infectious perspective of the environmental movement has slithered into every aspect of American life, including our schools, churches and synagogues, and public policy.  An entire generation and more have now been raised in a perpetual pall that declares the earth is doomed because of mankind's pollution.  These same citizens have been duped into believing that America's experiment with capitalism and free markets has been a complete failure, and the major evidence is climate change.  Having been fed a continual diet of junk science and raised with strict environmental regulations, they believe such stratagems to be the norm, and, consequently, they simply accept it without question.

This is why we must be armed with the truth to confront the eco-lies that surround us, and make sure we elect people of good character into office, to repeal a host of legislation designed to replace American liberty, with eco-tyranny.


ABOUT YOUR GUEST: Bestselling author Brian Sussman attended the University of Missouri dreaming of a career as a television meteorologist.  However, after graduation, his first job was as the nation's youngest television news director, managing the news team at the ABC-TV affiliate in Columbia, Missouri. The small newsroom environment allowed Sussman to write, produce, report, shoot and edit the news, and even hire employees and manage a budget. However, ironically, he never stood before the "green screen" to report the weather.

Moving West toward his home state of California, Brian finally got a shot to do his first weathercast at KOLO-TV in Reno. Deemed an overnight success, he was soon lured into the San Francisco television market where, over the next 20-years, Sussman became a meteorological legend at the CBS-owned KPIX, channel 5.  His weather and science reporting was honored with a handful of Emmy's, 16 "Best Weather" awards from the Associated Press and Radio-TV-News Directors Association, a National Education Association accolade of merit, and a "Brian Sussman Day" from the California State legislature.

Sussman is credentialed through the American Meteorological Society, and holds the esteemed AMS "Seal of Approval." He's served on the Society's board of education.

In 2001, Sussman shocked the California media community by leaving his TV job to venture into conservative talk radio. He was hired by one of the nation's top-talkers, KSFO, and currently hosts the station's popular morning-drive program.

In 2010, Brian neatly combined his journalism and meteorological expertise, releasing the bestseller, Climategate: A Veteran Meteorlogist Exposes the Global Warming Scam.

Now he presents, Eco-Tyranny: How the Left's Green Agenda.

"It's the most damning historical expose' ever written about the environmental movement," says Sussman. "The red roots of the green movement are conclusively uncovered in Eco-Tryanny.  If we want to secure our liberty and restore our economy, the wild branches growing from this insurgent foe--which now reach into every aspect of American life--must be lopped off. I explain how we can achieve this critical task in this must-read book."

The ninth annual Quad Cities Earth Week Fair is Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL. The Fair is open to the public and admission is free of charge. The first 200 adults through the door receive a gift certificate for a free train ride at Niabi Zoo. The Fair is a celebration of Earth Day (April 22) and educates attendees on environmental issues and ways they can be better stewards of our local environment.

The 2012 Fair showcases exhibitors from various environmental organizations, businesses and local governments. Booths provide hands-on activities, make and take crafts, green giveaways, and fun environmental education for the whole family.

In addition, the Fair features three special workshops appropriate for adults, children and Boy and Girl Scouts. At 10:30 a.m., John Morgan will present "Get Geocaching," a workshop to teach you how to get started with this real-world outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Attendees of this workshop are entered to win a Magellan GPS unit. At 12:30 p.m., Eddy Weiss will present "What on Earth? Climate Change and Severe Weather Safety," a workshop featuring weather preparedness insights and a challenge to change your world. Attendees of this workshop are entered to win a survival kit. At 2:30 p.m., Stan Bousson, a local photographer, will present "Capturing Moments in Nature," a workshop with tips and tricks on taking award-winning wildlife photographs and interesting local venues for nature photography. Attendees of this workshop are entered to win Barska binoculars with a digital zoom camera inside and a Bousson print of a nesting bald eagle. All workshops will be held in North Hall at the QCCA Expo Center.

The 2012 Earth Week Fair is hosted by the Quad Cities Earth Week Coalition and sponsored by the following: Bi-State Region Clean Air Partnership, City of Moline, iLivehere: myhome ourcommunity®, Keep Moline Beautiful, Quad City Conservation Alliance, Rock Island County Waste Management Agency, Scott County Conservation Board, Waste Commission of Scott County, Allied Waste, Alter Metal Recycling, City Carton Recycling, City of Davenport, Iowa American Water, Living Lands & Waters, Midland Davis, Radish magazine, City of Bettendorf, MidAmerican Energy, Niabi Zoo, City of Silvis and Keep Rock Island Beautiful.

For more information about the Earth Week Fair and the Quad Cities Earth Week Coalition, visit www.qcearthweek.org or call 309-788-5912.

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WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Homeowners or anyone interested in learning about pruning trees and shrubs can join arborist Ed Rinderspacher and the staff of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site for an Arbor Day presentation on Friday, April 27. Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees.

The program is free and begins at 2:00 p.m. at the visitor center. It will last about one hour and may involve about a half-mile of walking to different plantings around the park. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. In the case of inclement weather, please call (319) 643-2541 before attending. 

Ed Rinderspacher is the owner and operator of Rindy Tree and Turf Care, Inc. and a West Branch, Iowa  arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Mr. Rinderspacher will provide a one-hour, hands-on tree pruning demonstration of cuts and techniques for small, young, newly planted trees.   "There are about a thousand trees in this 187-acre national park," said Pete Swisher, superintendent of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. "We hope our visitors can see examples of the careful work we do to maintain the landscape commemorating Herbert Hoover's life."

April 21 through 29 is National Park Week, the annual week for celebration and recognition of your National Parks. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.


Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
110 Parkside Drive
PO Box 607
West Branch, Iowa   52358

319 643-2541 phone
319 643-7864 fax
www.nps.gov/heho

On Saturday, April 14 the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a wildflower hike at 10:00 A.M. Spring has sprung early in the woodlands of the Wapsi River Center!  Join naturalist, Mike Granger, for a hike to identify some spectacular botanical sights like rue anemone, hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, Jacob's ladder, spring beauty, dog tooth violet and many more.  Consider bringing a camera to capture these woodland wildflowers at their "springiest".

The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center can be found 6 miles south of Wheatland or 1 mile northwest of Dixon, Iowa by taking County Road Y4E.  Then turn north at 52nd Avenue and follow the signs for about 1 mile.

Governor Secures State, Federal Resources to Help Southern Illinois Families, Businesses, and Local Governments Recover from Tornado

HARRISBURG - April 2, 2012. At the direction of Governor Pat Quinn, the heads of a number of state agencies today announced in Harrisburg up to $13 million of financial aid and construction projects to help families, businesses and local governments recover from the deadly tornado that ravaged several Southern Illinois communities on Feb. 29. The package put together at the Governor's instruction includes reimbursements to local governments for some of their disaster-related expenses, road improvements, grants to help homeowners repair or rebuild damaged homes, and low-interest business loans to create jobs and help businesses recover.

"This assistance package offers real solutions for the long-term recovery effort in Harrisburg and other communities," Governor Quinn said. "Recovery from this tornado won't happen overnight, but these resources will help residents and businesses of hard hit areas in Southern Illinois begin to rebuild their lives."

Following FEMA's denial of assistance for people affected by the tornado on March 10 and denial of an appeal on March 21, Governor Quinn moved quickly to secure support for people and businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). That request was approved the following day, and the SBA began meeting with people interested in the low-interest, long-term loans on March 23.

"In the weeks since the severe storms and tornadoes hit Southern Illinois in February and early March, I have met with representatives from federal, state, and local emergency management agencies to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts in Harrisburg, Ridgway and surrounding areas," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).  "I will continue to work with Governor Quinn and the Illinois Congressional Delegation to seek further opportunities for federal assistance to help these communities rebuild."

In addition to the SBA loans, the state's multi-agency relief package includes:

  • Assistance from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) - Up to $5 million from the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) will pay for public infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. In partnership with Ameren Illinois, another $1 million from the Energy Efficiency Trust will fund energy efficiency incentives through Ameren's Act on Energy program to benefit customers affected by the disaster. Additionally, DCEO will make as much as $750,000 in Workforce Investment Act grants available to cover wages for dislocated workers to participate in disaster cleanup and structured work-based learning.
  • Assistance from Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) - Up to $2 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) business loans will be available through IFA under a relending in Gallatin, Saline and Williamson counties. Loans from a minimum of $50,000 up to a maximum of $250,000 may be used for the purchase of land, construction or renovation of an industrial or commercial building or purchase of machinery and equipment. The IFA will partner with local banks to market the program to local businesses hurt by the recent storms and tornadoes.
  • Assistance from Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) - Twenty-one municipal road improvements in Harrisburg will be completed at an estimated cost of $1.58 million.
  • Assistance from Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) - Reimbursements up to $1.5 million to affected local governments for some of their disaster-related expenses will be made through the state's Disaster Response and Recovery Fund, which supports emergency response and recovery efforts.
  • Assistance from Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) - IHDA will commit up to $1 million in federal HOME Funds using the Single Family Owner Occupied Rehabilitation (SFOOR) Program. Up to $40,000 per household in forgivable non-payment loans will be made available to homeowners in affected areas. The funds can be used to build or renovate destroyed or damaged homes.
  • Delta Regional Authority - Governor Quinn secured $400,000 in federal funding to reimburse local governments for expenses related to debris removal.

"Ameren Illinois is delighted to partner with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help make recovery a little easier for residents of the Harrisburg and Ridgway areas," said Michael Moehn, Ameren Illinois senior vice president of customer operations. "Through our ActOnEnergy® program and the Warm Neighbors Cool Friends Home Repair Program, residents will be able to receive the financial assistance they need to meet the highest energy efficiency standards as they repair and rebuild. This will allow them to save money today and in the years to come."

Governor Quinn has directed his staff to continue to work with local, federal and non-governmental agencies to secure additional support for families in the affected areas.

This assistance package is in addition to nearly $1.4 million of in-kind state assistance already provided to the affected region. Shortly after the tornado stuck, Governor Quinn surveyed the damaged area and activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the deployment of state resources and personnel in support of local response and recovery efforts. The state's response included large deployments from IDOT, the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois State Police, as well as assistance from several other state agencies and mutual aid organizations.

"The state of Illinois has been a trusted partner with us since the day the tornado struck," said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Gregg. "Recovery after a disaster of this magnitude isn't easy. This state assistance package will give our recovery efforts a significant boost. I appreciate Governor Quinn's continued commitment to helping our communities recover."

Governor Quinn directed state officials to start developing the state assistance package immediately after the state's request for FEMA assistance for individuals and subsequent appeal were denied. The administration has been exploring all possible opportunities to deliver relief and assistance to Southern Illinois' impacted communities.

Additional information about the state's response efforts is available at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.

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Change Begins with a Drop

The best way to understand how important it is to maintain the world's water resources is to figure out how you fit into this global picture. Calculate your water usage.

That's the water you see directly. Water consumption you don't see, known as virtual water, is the amount needed to create the foods we eat and the products we use. Like the amount of water farm animals drink, the water used to grow their feed, and the water needed to manufacture clothing. That adds up quickly.

Water scarcity, a worldwide concern, has been met head-on by Israel for years. Israel is a leader in desalination technology and water recycling, reusing 75% of its waste water every year?the highest rate in the world. Most of this water is used for agriculture, which saves scarce fresh water for human consumption. JNF's reservoirs and cutting-edge wetlands technology have increased Israel's total water supply by 12%. These techniques are shared with the countries around the world, helping to make it a better place.

National Arbor Day is April 29 this year, and the best way to celebrate is by planting trees. The Arbor Day Foundation is making it easy for everyone to celebrate the tree planters' holiday. Everyone who joins the Foundation in April will receive 10 free shade trees.

National Arbor Day and Iowa's Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April, which is April 29 this year.

By joining the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation in April, you will receive the following trees: red oak, sugar maple, weeping willow, baldcypress, thornless honeylocust, pin oak, river birch, tuliptree, silver maple and red maple. The free trees are part of the Foundation's Trees for America campaign.

"These trees will provide shade in the summer and magnificent color throughout the fall," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. "By the simple act of planting trees, a person can make a positive impact on the Earth and a deep, meaningful connection to nature. When you plant a tree, you're giving a gift for future generations."

The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting in April or May with enclosed planting instructions.  The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge.

To become a member of the Foundation and receive the free trees, send a $10 contribution to TEN FREE SHADE TREES, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by April 30, 2012, or visit arborday.org/April.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced recipients of the 2011 Recovery Champion award, which honors Service employees and partners for outstanding efforts to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants. Among the honorees is Dr. Carol Bocetti of the California University of Pennsylvania, who leads the recovery team for the endangered Kirtland's warbler.

A total of 56 teams and nine individuals were honored as Recovery Champions for work to conserve species ranging from the polar bear in Alaska to the Appalachian elktoe mussel and spotfin chub in North Carolina.

"Recovery Champions are helping listed species get to the point at which they are secure in the wild and no longer need Endangered Species Act protection," said Service Director Dan Ashe. "These groups and individuals have done amazing work in helping to bring dozens of species back from the brink of extinction, while improving habitat that benefits many other species and local communities."

Dr. Bocetti was recognized for her work with the Kirtland's warbler, an endangered songbird found only in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario.  Dr. Bocetti's  research and recovery initiatives have been a key factor in the growth of the warbler population from near record lows of  about 200 pairs during the mid-1980s to the current estimate of  more than 1,700 pairs, surpassing recovery goals.   Her research also documented the link between the size of jack pine stands - the warbler's nesting habitat - and warbler productivity.

A member of the Kirtland's warbler recovery team since 1998, Dr. Bocetti became the team leader in 2006. Working with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, the U. S. Forest Service, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others, she spearheaded efforts to develop a conservation strategy and commitment to managing habitat, a significant step toward recovery and long-term conservation of the species.

"Thanks to Dr. Bocetti's leadership and dedication, Kirtland's warblers are making strides toward recovery," said Tom Melius, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Midwest Regional Director. "That is a remarkable achievement for a species that was once on the brink of extinction."

From the bull trout in Washington, Oregon, and Montana to the red-cockaded woodpecker in Florida, Alabama and Texas, Recovery Champions are taking action to benefit these species. Service employees and partners, including federal and state conservation agencies, tribes, universities, conservation organizations, private landowners, and zoos and botanic gardens, are making a difference through activities such as removing dams so that anadromous fish can reach their spawning grounds, restoring longleaf pine forests in the Southeast, and reintroducing an endangered bird species into its historical range.

For example, the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) is being recognized for its work in endangered species recovery programs over several decades. Numerous species across multiple states have greatly benefitted from TESF's continued support over the years and are on the road to recovery thanks in large part to these efforts, such as the black-footed ferret, red-cockaded woodpecker, Chiricahua leopard frog and Northern Aplomado falcon.

Notably, the TESF has been active and supportive in gray wolf recovery in the United States, both in the Northern Rocky Mountains and in the Southwest. Since 1997, the Ladder Ranch Wolf Management Facility, located on R.E. Turner's Ladder Ranch in south-central New Mexico and operated by TESF is one of the program's three primary captive pre-release facilities and has been instrumental in housing and selectively breeding Mexican wolves for release to the wild.

Also this year, National Wildlife Refuges from Maine through Virginia are being honored for conserving more than 250 breeding pairs of piping plovers on refuge, state, municipal and private lands.

In the West, the Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative, comprised of more than 22 organizations, after creating a strategy for needed actions such as best management practices for oil and gas development, is working with the industry to implement the practices.

And in an unusual accomplishment, a team of biologists, avian husbandry experts and veterinarians captured wild Nihoa millerbirds, insect-eating songbirds on the Hawaiian island of Nihoa, and translocated them to Laysan Island, restoring Millerbirds to the island after an absence of 100 years.

Restoring streams, releasing listed species into their historical ranges, and conducting field surveys and monitoring programs are among the diversity of initiatives by this year's Recovery Champions. What began in Fiscal Year 2002 as a one-time award for Service staff members for achievements in conserving listed species was reactivated in 2007 and expanded to honor Service partners as well,  recognizing their essential role in the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

For information about the 2011 Recovery Champions, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-champions/index.html.

For more information about recovery efforts for the Kirtland's warbler, visit www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered

America's fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. To learn more about the Service's Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq.

-FWS-

by Senator Tom Harkin

Earlier this month, tornadoes wreaked havoc is multiple Midwestern states. Most notably, small towns in Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky were hit by monstrous storms that caused severe destruction. Seeing the aftermath of these storms, I was reminded of the risks that tornadoes and severe weather pose to small towns.

In 1993, I was chief sponsor of legislation greatly broadening what is now called the Federal Emergency Managements Agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The program and its more recent modifications have provided significant funding to states to undertake risk mitigation projects that help protect communities from future natural disasters. These investments help to improve the structural integrity of key infrastructure and buildings to enhance safety and reduce costly repairs that result from destructive storms, like flooding and high winds from tornadoes.

Knowing how to protect yourself and your family, however, during a storm is an absolute necessity. With the unusually warm and mild winter and an increase in severe storms already this spring, dangerous weather could hit Iowa earlier than normal.

Always remember that the safest place to be is in an underground shelter, basement or safe room. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.

Here are some further safety tips that can help to keep you and your family safe, provided by the National Weather Service:
• Go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately.
• Do not wait until you see the tornado. If you are caught outdoors and cannot make it to a shelter, seek secure cover in a basement, shelter, or sturdy building.

If flying debris occurs while you are driving: pull over, park, and follow these instructions:
• Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering it with your hands and a blanket if possible.
• If you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

Regarding mobile homes:
• Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes or other severe winds.
• Do not seek shelter in a hallway or bathroom of a mobile home.
• If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately.

With these tips, I hope you all stay safe and secure whenever a storm is near.

For more information on safety during a severe storm, please visit the national weather service at www.weather.gov, my website at www.harkin.senate.gov, or feel free to call any of my offices in Iowa or Washington, D.C.

A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here.

SPRINGFIELD - March 12, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement regarding the state's efforts to secure federal assistance for people affected by the Feb. 29 tornado.

 

"Today I spoke with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and informed her that we intend to appeal FEMA's denial of our request for much-needed individual assistance for the people of Southern Illinois. I urged Secretary Napolitano to reconsider FEMA's decision.  We are doing everything possible at the state level to help these devastated communities, but some of the assistance that our residents need to begin rebuilding their lives is only available through a federal disaster declaration.

 

"I met with local officials, spent time with residents and saw firsthand the devastation and damage caused by the tornado in Southern Illinois. FEMA underestimated the impact this deadly tornado had on small towns like Harrisburg and Ridgway. We have already begun work on our appeal of this decision in order to secure federal assistance.

 

"I am grateful to Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk and the Illinois Congressional Delegation for their vigorous support of our efforts to bring assistance to the people whose lives were ripped apart by the Feb. 29 tornado. We are hopeful our joint efforts will help FEMA understand that a full recovery from this disaster cannot happen without their support."

 

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