MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2006 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) King, Hewes, Robertson, Moffatt, Posey, Jackson (32nd), Browning, Butler, Carmichael, Dearing, Frazier, Gollott, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jordan, Kirby, Little, Mettetal, Morgan, White, Williamson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY FOR PERFORMING EXEMPLARY SERVICE ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST DURING THE HURRICANE KATRINA CRISIS.
WHEREAS, on Monday, August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a Category Four Hurricane, crashed with unrelenting and violent force onto the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast, making landfall at or around Waveland, Mississippi. In one day, the worst natural disaster in our history struck us a grievous blow, leaving a 90-mile swath of destruction along the coast and causing severe damage throughout central and north Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, after Hurricane Katrina, 100% of Mississippi Power Company's customers were left with no service; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi Power Company had 65% of its transmission and distribution facilities damaged with 23,500 spans of downed wire, 300 downed transmission structures, 9,000 downed distribution poles and 2,300 damaged transformers. The first day after Hurricane Katrina, all of Mississippi Power's substations and its two major power plants were out of service, and only 3% of 3,000 MW of generation were available; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi Power Company's, led by President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anthony J. Topazi, faced the daunting task of restoring electricity to its 195,000 customers in 23 counties in Southeast Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the company's damaged infrastructure, Mississippi Power also had over 700 of its employees who suffered personal losses; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi Power demonstrated untiring commitment, diligence and service to its customer base, as well as the state as a whole, by restoring power in an efficient and prompt manner after Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, despite all of the overwhelming challenges Mississippi Power faced, it took only 12 days after Hurricane Katrina hit the coast, for Mississippi Power Company to have 100% of its customer base, who could receive power, back on line; and
WHEREAS, the incredible feat of restoring power to Southeast Mississippi could not have occurred without the dedicated Mississippi Power Company employees, along with nearly 11,000 outside personnel from our sister states who helped Mississippi Power restore power in such an efficient and prompt manner; and
WHEREAS, the reliability of this dedicated corporate citizen is reflected by Mississippi Power Company's goal to do whatever it took to restore service for customers and take care of employees affected by Hurricane Katrina and those working to restore power: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the executives and employees of Mississippi Power Company for their exemplary service, conduct and performance rendered prior to and subsequent to Hurricane Katrina's unprecedented destruction on and near the Mississippi Gulf Coast in August and September, 2005, and we offer our thanks to these individuals for their assistance in providing power during this critical time, as we endeavor to rebuild our state and restore its economy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to CEO Anthony J. Topazi and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.