HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 46

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO URGE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BARACK OBAMA TO IMMEDIATELY DECLARE NEW MEXICO A DISASTER AREA DUE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND THE LOSS OF NATURAL GAS TO NUMEROUS COUNTIES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico had record-setting cold temperatures during the month of February 2011, when an arctic cold front pushed into the state, bringing strong winds, snow and dangerous wind-chill factors; and

     WHEREAS, as a result of this frigid weather, numerous counties, cities and municipalities experienced gas outages that affected government, businesses and private homes; and

     WHEREAS, the loss of natural gas caused a widespread suspension of business and significant loss of revenues due to closures of schools, government offices and private businesses; and

     WHEREAS, individuals experienced extreme hardship and distress because they were unable to heat their homes, and numerous homes suffered damages due to frozen water pipes, loss of electricity and other effects of the loss of natural gas; and

     WHEREAS, the federal emergency management agency has begun to arrive in New Mexico to assess damages to property, losses to businesses and government infrastructure and issues of personal health; and

     WHEREAS, the federal emergency management agency is also charged with assessing the cost of the public response to the natural gas outages that occurred as a result of this extreme weather; and

     WHEREAS, although the federal emergency management agency promises a quick response, the ability of counties and municipalities to rebound and recover from this disaster demands an immediate declaration of New Mexico as a disaster area; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Susana Martinez, having already declared New Mexico a disaster area, has stated her belief that the federal emergency management agency's assessment will rise to the level of a presidential disaster declaration; and

     WHEREAS, this declaration is critical to restoring the public losses to state and local governments that are associated with uninsured damages;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to urge President of the United States Barack Obama to immediately declare New Mexico a disaster area due to extreme cold weather and the loss of natural gas to numerous counties, cities and municipalities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to President of the United States Barack Obama and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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