ON THE AIR DURING HURRICANES

WASHINGTON, May 31 -

Mr. Speaker, my congressional district in southeast Texas is right in Hurricane Alley. When Katrina, Rita, Humberto, Gustav, and Ike struck with all their fury, people were left in the dark with no Internet or cell service, but local TV and radio reporters were still on the air telling folks what they needed to know.

Hurricane Rita was the fourth most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense hurricane ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm was devastating to our communities, but many folks were able to stay safe because they were tuned in to the news. Our broadcasters provide communities with vital lifesaving information before and after storms. They are the most reliable resource we have when disaster strikes.

Today, on the first day of a hurricane season, we should thank all of our local first responders, police, and firefighters. But we should also thank all the broadcasters who do their part to keep us safe in southeast Texas when the storms come crashing ashore.

And that’s just the way it is.

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