GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1641*

Short Title:  Funds for Hurricane Evac. Restudy.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Hightower; Lee and Gottovi.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 25, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR A HURRICANE EVACUATION RESTUDY OF COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, North Carolina is one of the most vulnerable of the eastern seaboard states to hurricane strikes; and
Whereas, in 1984 a study on hurricane evacuations was initiated by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and
Whereas, since the completion of the original study in 1987, the coastal population has increased 20%+ and the tourist population has increased significantly; and
Whereas, new computer modeling techniques show that the storm surge heights for fast-moving hurricanes could range up to 10' higher than those projected in the original study causing far more extensive flooding and destruction than earlier anticipated; and
Whereas, the change in data indicates that current clearance times and flood zones for the State's coastal communities may no longer be valid and emergency management decisions based on the existing, obsolete information may endanger lives; and
Whereas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reviewed the data and recommended that a hurricane evacuation restudy of coastal North Carolina be done; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety the sum of one hundred five thousand dollars ($105,000) for the fiscal year 1994-95 to be used to fund the State's share of the cost of conducting a restudy of hurricane evacuations for coastal North Carolina.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.