HOMELAND SECURITY:

THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE STATES HOW SAFE ROOMS SAVED LIVES ON MAY 8TH 2003

Testimony of
Anthony S. Lowe
Mitigation Division Director
Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Before The
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Science
Subcommittee on Research and
Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards

"I am Anthony S. Lowe, Director of the Mitigation Division of FEMA of the Department of Homeland Security. On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, we welcome and appreciate the invitation to appear today before the Subcommittees on Research and on Environment, Technology and Standards."

"Over the last 30 years, FEMA has conducted post-disaster field investigations through its disaster assistance programs to determine how buildings and other structures performed..." "One of FEMA's greatest successes has been in the area of wind hazard shelters for tornadoes and hurricanes." "Following the 1999 tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma and Kansas, Oklahoma used its HMGP funds to establish a homeowner reimbursement program for in-home saferooms." "Under Secretary Brown and I toured several of these damaged homes ourselves and saw both the tremendous damage and excellent performance of these saferooms. This is the kind of work that FEMA is most proud of: saving lives and property, and getting people to take action before disaster strikes."" Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama have all funded shelters, through various programs, over the last four years. As a result of these initiatives, high quality and affordable wind hazard shelters have and continue to be constructed throughout areas of the U.S. threatened by both tornadoes and hurricanes."

To read this testimony, click link below.

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http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/research04/mar24/lowe.htm