LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Emergency Managers Association of
Western New York team for their courageous efforts and fearless service
during their response to the heavy rainstorm and flooding in Cattarau-
gus, Chautauqua and Erie counties on August 9-10, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the concerned and caring work of citizens who selflessly assist
in safeguarding the safety and welfare of their neighbors and community;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Emergency Managers Association of Western New York team for their coura-
geous efforts and fearless service during their response to the heavy
rainstorm and flooding in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Erie counties on
August 9-10, 2009; and
WHEREAS, On August 9-10, 2009, the Tri-County region of Cattaraugus,
Chautauqua and Erie counties were besieged by torrential rains, high
winds, and flash flooding; the horrific storm forced the evacuation of
homes, businesses and hospitals across the region; and
WHEREAS, Many citizens feared for their lives as they looked out their
windows to see what looked like a river flowing by their homes; in the
small town of Gowanda, 30 miles south of Buffalo, the Cattaraugus Creek
rose five feet in five minutes; the flooding was so quick that two of
the Creek's tributaries, Thatcher and Grannis brooks, rose to eight or
nine feet above flood stage; and
WHEREAS, Even to the north, far away from the storm center, there were
remants of a fierce flood, most notably large sections of murky, brown
floodwater mixing with the blue waters of Lake Erie; and
WHEREAS, As a result of this widespread flash flooding, many residents
of the region were caught off-guard and suddenly needed to be rescued,
including those stranded in cars and at campsites; in addition, numerous
hospitals needed to be evacuated as they had lost all essential services
as well as hundreds of homes; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the flooding, winds reached gusts of 50 to 60
mph ripping down trees and wires across the region leaving wide-spread
power outages and making travel very dangerous as rescue crews worked;
and
WHEREAS, The Emergency Managers Association of Western New York imme-
diately deployed a highly-qualified team to assist in the response to
this ravenous storm and to support local emergency response units
throughout the area in any way that they could; and
WHEREAS, The Emergency Managers Association of Western New York is
made up of 75 dedicated members who work for local government or are
engaged in Public Safety service through First Responder jurisdictions,
DPW, Health Emergency Management; Homeland Security, Facility Safety and
Security, 911 and Emergency Communications; and
WHEREAS, Each member participates in rigorous training to facilitate
team development, as well as team exercises to strengthen team read-
iness; and
WHEREAS, On those two fateful days in August of 2009, the Emergency
Managers Association of Western New York team, acted with bravery and
steady precision in dealing with the risk and drama of emergency situ-
ations, thereby saving countless lives; and
WHEREAS, All of the individuals involved with the Emergency Managers
Association of Western New York, past and present, are deserving of the
highest commendation for their contributions to the noble missions of
this life-saving organization; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Emergency Managers Association of Western New York team for
their courageous efforts and fearless service during their response to
the heavy rainstorm and flooding in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Erie
counties on August 9-10, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Emergency Managers Association of Western New York.