Fw: Lincoln Statement on Release of Albert Pike Flood Report

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From: "Becker, Ben (Agriculture)" <Ben_Becker@agriculture.senate.gov>

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:37:04 -0500

Subject: Lincoln Statement on Release of Albert Pike Flood Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 22, 2010

Contact: Courtney Rowe, Ben Becker (202) 224-2035

 

Lincoln Statement on Release of Albert Pike Flood Report

 

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today issued the below statement, following the release of a Forest Service report prompted by the June 11 flood at Albert Pike. The "Recreation Visitor Safety Report" provides an outline of the events which took place at Albert Pike, identifies the results of regional assessments of visitor safety which were ordered by the Chief immediately after the flood, and describes several national actions either already underway or planned to enhance visitor safety at developed campgrounds. 

 

"I'm pleased to see that the Forest Service and USDA have taken the time to thoroughly review the events leading up the tragic flood which killed 20 people at Camp Albert Pike on June 11^th of this year. I'm concerned that USDA's review showed that there were several steps which could have been taken to reduce the risks those campers faced. I plan on introducing legislation when Congress returns to require the Forest Service to keep the Congress updated on the steps they are taking to improve visitor safety, not just at Camp Albert Pike, but at all developed recreation sites across the country.

 

I'm also happy to hear that the agency is moving forward to evaluate installing an early warning system at Albert Pike, and taking steps to provide better NOAA Weather Radio Coverage there. Further, they plan on providing NOAA Weather Radios to all Forest Service Campground Hosts across the country.

 

I look forward to working with USDA, the National Weather Service, and all other agencies involved to ensure that we do everything in our power to prevent a recurrence of a tragedy such as this one."

 

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