HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

198

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

RECOGNIZING MARCH 2004 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH.

 

WHEREAS, since September 11, 2001, the Homeland Security Advisory System that monitors the risk of terrorist attacks in our nation has raised the terrorist risk level to a high condition on four separate occasions; and

WHEREAS, while we are fortunate that no terrorist acts have occurred during those periods, it is critical that all Americans and residents in Hawaii remain vigilant, prepared, and ready; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS has devoted itself to the goal of educating individuals, families, schools, and businesses in Hawaii about how to respond at each threat level of the federal alert system to strengthen our community's response in the event of future attacks and other disasters; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS has an unparalleled record of helping Hawaii's residents to prevent, prepare for, and respond to life-threatening emergencies by:

(1) Delivering relief services to victims of disaster;

(2) Offering health and safety training such as first aid, CPR, and aquatic lifesaving to more than 37,000 people statewide last year; and

(3) Providing emergency communication services to military families and participating in community education projects to safe lives;

and

WHEREAS, in the last two years, society has changed dramatically with the increasing severity of natural disasters and the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the AMERICAN RED CROSS understands well that America and Hawaii's residents must be better prepared to face possible disaster in their own region; and

WHEREAS, preparation ranges from knowing what to do in a natural or manmade disaster to having the skills to respond when a family member has chest pains; and

WHEREAS, the AMERICAN RED CROSS urges all Americans to take simple steps for emergency preparedness, including outlining a disaster-preparedness plan, assembling a disaster supplies kit, volunteering to help the local community prepare for disasters, and training at least one member of the household in first aid and CPR; and

WHEREAS, individuals can help make Hawaii and our nation safer by joining the AMERICAN RED CROSS as a volunteer, course participant, instructor, or contributor; and

WHEREAS, the AMERICAN RED CROSS responded to 152 disasters in Hawaii last year, the equivalent of one disaster every two to three days, ranging from home fires to flooding; and

WHEREAS, during AMERICAN RED CROSS relief operations, volunteers assess damages, drive emergency response vehicles to distribute food and other supplies, provide shelter for families who have been evacuated from their homes, and provide necessities to the needy, and all services are provided free-of-charge as a result of generous contributions from the people of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the AMERICAN RED CROSS also serves military families by delivering emergency messages between soldiers and their families at home, and last year, with so many U.S. troops deployed overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan defending our freedom, the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS helped nearly 1200 families to remain connected with their deployed loved ones during family crises or emergencies; and

WHEREAS, March 2004 has been recognized as American Red Cross Month; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that all Hawaii residents are urged to work through the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS to help prepare their families and community for emergencies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii's families are encouraged to continue giving their time, financial contributions, and blood donations to support the Hawaii State Chapter of the AMERICAN RED CROSS' mission to prevent and relieve suffering and to save lives.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

RECOGNIZING MARCH 2004 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH