The Susquehanna River Basin Commission has adopted this following resolution:

RESOLUTION NO. 2009-08

A RESOLUTION of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (Commission) urging that the President and the Congress of the United States provide adequate support to the Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System (SFFWS) in FY 2011.

WHEREAS, the Susquehanna River Basin is one of the most flood-prone watersheds in the United States, with average annual flood damages of nearly $150 million; and

WHEREAS, through timely and accurate flood forecast and warning activities in the Susquehanna River Basin, the SFFWS has helped prevent injury and loss of life; reduced flood damages by tens of millions of dollars; and delivered a benefit to cost ratio of 20:1; and

WHEREAS, this water resource management program is inextricably linked to the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the Susquehanna River Basin; and

WHEREAS, in the interest of avoiding duplication of effort, maximizing available resources and promoting good government, the Commission, in accordance with its authority under Section 3.7 of the Susquehanna River Basin Compact, Pub. L. 91-575, plays an important coordinative role with federal and state agencies through the SFFWS, and also provides important technical assistance and public information services to the SFFWS.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. The Commission strongly recommends that the President of the United States include sufficient funding in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to fully fund at $2.4 million the SFFWS to enable timely and accurate flood forecasts and warnings to be issued by the National Weather Service.

2. The United States Congress is likewise encouraged to appropriate $2.4 million for the SFFWS in Fiscal Year 2011.

3. Copies of this resolution shall be provided to the President of the United States; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; all member jurisdiction Members of Congress; the Administrator of NOAA; the Director of USGS; the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; the Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division; the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District; the secretaries of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Maryland Department of the Environment; the Commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation; the directors of the New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland emergency management agencies; and the directors of all county emergency management agencies in the Susquehanna River Basin.

4. This resolution shall be effective immediately.

Dated: December 17, 2009