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Nieto H.R. No. 614 73R8996 LBD-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The National Weather Service plans to replace its 1-2 outdated weather survival radar system with Next Generation Weather 1-3 Radar (NEXRAD), the latest in weather radar tehnology, but with its 1-4 recent decision to place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.