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By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Flood Safety Awareness Week

WHEREAS, floods are the most common and costly natural disasters in our country and can result in loss of life; and

WHEREAS, the impact of Hurricane Helene on Southwest Virginia resulted in significant destruction, displacing families and damaging critical infrastructure, reminding us of the ongoing threat posed by flooding; and

WHEREAS, the devastation experienced during Hurricane Helene underscores the importance of preparedness and community resilience in the face of such natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, ninety percent of all presidential declarations of emergency and major disasters involve flooding; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has 2.3 million acres of mapped special flood hazard areas, which represents 9 percent of Virginia's land mass, and only 3 percent of Virginians statewide are covered by flood insurance; and

WHEREAS, floods can happen without warning and all Virginians should know their risk and take steps now to make sure their family is prepared; and

WHEREAS, Virginians can view mapped special flood hazard areas on the Virginia Flood Risk Information System available on the website of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the lead state agency responsible for administering flood-related programs; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management produces important public information on flood risk and response; and

WHEREAS, Flood Safety Awareness Week is intended to educate all residents of Virginia on the potential risk to life and property from flooding, and to encourage individuals to take action to prepare your home and family long before water starts to rise;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize the week of March 9-15, 2025, as FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.