By:  Nieto                                             H.R. No. 614
       73R8996 LBD-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The National Weather Service plans to replace its
    1-2  outdated weather survival radar system with Next Generation Weather
    1-3  Radar (NEXRAD), the latest in weather radar tehnology, but with its
    1-4  recent decision to place NEXRAD in the New Braunfels area, it is
    1-5  neglecting the critical needs of those Texans who live along the
    1-6  Texas-Mexico border between Del Rio and Laredo; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, NEXRAD, which operates on Doppler technology, is
    1-8  capable of monitoring precipitation as well as tracking subtle yet
    1-9  potentially dangerous air movements, enabling scientists to predict
   1-10  with greater accuracy than ever before the likelihood of tornadoes,
   1-11  hail, flash floods, and other violent weather; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Historically a window for severe storm activity, the
   1-13  southwestern region of the state stands to be greatly affected by
   1-14  the ultimate location of the region's NEXRAD system; consolidating
   1-15  current facilities from Austin, Hondo, and San Antonio at a new
   1-16  site near New Braunfels as the National Weather Service has
   1-17  proposed will deny the citizens who live between Del Rio and Laredo
   1-18  the extensive overlapping of radar coverage that is currently
   1-19  available to citizens throughout the rest of the state and could
   1-20  render the entire region defenseless should its single radar
   1-21  facility be disabled; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, With a major fiber optic cable service already in
   1-23  place, the city of Hondo possesses the special technology necessary
   1-24  to support NEXRAD and placement of the NEXRAD system in Hondo would
    2-1  provide the extra layer of coverage necessary to protect this key
    2-2  area from the perils of unforeseen violent weather; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, In addition, the need to place the NEXRAD system
    2-4  between any regional/military/international airports has been
    2-5  eliminated since terminal Doppler radars are now available at
    2-6  regional airports to give wind shear warnings to FAA flight
    2-7  controllers; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, The National Weather Service should reconsider its
    2-9  decision to place NEXRAD in New Braunfels; for the safety of
   2-10  thousands of citizens who live in the southwestern region of Texas,
   2-11  NEXRAD and the Regional Forecasting Office should be permanently
   2-12  located in Hondo; now, therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-14  Legislature hereby encourage the National Weather Service to
   2-15  relocate the proposed NEXRAD site to Hondo for the protection of
   2-16  the lives and property of those who reside in the southwestern
   2-17  region of our state; and, be it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-19  prepared for the National Weather Service as a formal expression of
   2-20  the sentiment of the Texas House of Representatives.