R 087

2003 -- S 0922

Enacted 03/11/03

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

FORMALLY REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO DIRECT THE

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION

TO DENY FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, OR

IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO OVERRULE THE DECISION AND DIRECT APPROVAL OF

FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Alves, J Montalbano, Irons, and Tassoni

Date Introduced: March 11, 2003

     WHEREAS, On February 20, 2003, the Town of West Warwick, Rhode Island, was the

scene of a tragic and fatal fire, far surpassing any previous incident in the history of the State of

Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Ninety-nine (99) individuals have perished to date in the Station Nightclub

Fire in West Warwick and over two hundred (200) individuals have been injured, many of them

severely; and

     WHEREAS, The Station Nightclub Fire Disaster has affected Americans across the entire

United States, claiming the lives of residents from California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, as

well as the many from the State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The Station Nightclub Fire Disaster has imposed enormous costs upon the

state and local governments within the State of Rhode Island, and the State of Rhode Island has

met the standards outlined in the Stafford Act due to the severity and magnitude of the Station

Nightclub Fire Disaster that demands a response beyond the capabilities of state and local

governments; and

     WHEREAS, In 1999, President Clinton authorized the aid to the City of Worcester,

Massachusetts under an emergency declaration in response to a tragic fire at the Worcester Cold

Storage and warehouse facility which caused the deaths of six firefighters;

     NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Honorable Rhode Island Senate

requests that the President of the United States direct the Federal Emergency Management

Agency to reconsider the decision to deny federal disaster assistance to the State of Rhode Island,

or in the alternative, to overrule the decision and direct approval of federal disaster assistance to

the State of Rhode Island. And furthermore, the Secretary of State is authorized and directed to

send a certified copy of this Senate Resolution directly to the Honorable George W. Bush,

President of the United States, with all due haste.

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LC02815

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