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2005 SESSION
WHEREAS, on August 30, 2004, the remnants of Tropical Storm Gaston dropped more than a foot of rain on parts of the Richmond metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, the severity of the storm was widely underestimated by, among others, the National Weather Service, which had forecast 1.5 inches of rain for the Richmond area; and
WHEREAS, by mid-afternoon of August 30, Gaston posed a threat to Central Virginia including Henrico County, to which the Henrico County Office of Emergency Services responded; and
WHEREAS, Gaston caused significant damage across Central Virginia, including flash flooding and major damage to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Henrico County Office of Emergency Services tracked Gaston throughout the afternoon of August 30, and soon the volume of calls concerning water-related incidents increased dramatically; and
WHEREAS, a local state of emergency was declared in response, and the fully staffed Office of Emergency Services began providing resources to emergency responders in the field, many of whom were rescuing citizens trapped in their vehicles by rising floodwaters; and
WHEREAS, the Henrico County Office of Emergency Services coordinated the purchasing of resources and provisions for field personnel, requested additional assistance from the Virginia National Guard and the Richmond Regional Airport Authority, and opened a shelter for county residents at Hermitage High School; and
WHEREAS, throughout the emergency, the Henrico County Office of Emergency Services was the focal point of all departmental interaction, and the response and recovery efforts of individual Henrico County departments were coordinated by the Office of Emergency Services; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Henrico County Office of Emergency Services for its swift and effective response to the emergency situation caused by Tropical Storm Gaston; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Henrico County Office of Emergency Services as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the agency's outstanding service to the citizens of Henrico County.