00                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4                                                                   
01 Relating to Avalanche Awareness Month.                                                                                  
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS Alaskans live, work, and play in and on the edge of the wilderness; and                                 
04       WHEREAS Alaskans spend twice as much time enjoying the abundance and variety                                    
05 of Alaska's winter recreational opportunities as most other Americans spend in winter                                   
06 recreational activities; and                                                                                            
07       WHEREAS many of the state's popular winter recreation areas are subject to                                      
08 avalanche danger; and                                                                                                   
09       WHEREAS many Alaskans are not properly educated or equipped to recognize and                                    
10 respond to avalanches; and                                                                                              
11       WHEREAS Alaska has the highest avalanche death rate per capita in the nation; over                              
12 70 Alaskans have died in Alaska avalanches since 1968, and 28 have perished since 1999; and                             
13       WHEREAS education on the recognition of avalanche risks, response to avalanches,                                
14 and the use of appropriate equipment could reduce avalanche-related tragedies that create                               
15 undue hardships and great personal loss for families and communities;                                                   
16       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature proclaims the month of                                         

01 November 2003 as Avalanche Awareness Month; and be it                                                                   
02       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges schools, community                                     
03 groups, and other public and private agencies and individuals to observe Avalanche                                      
04 Awareness Month with appropriate activities that increase the public's awareness of avalanche                           
05 dangers, how to respond to avalanches, and the use of appropriate equipment in avalanche                                
06 areas.                                                                                                                  
07       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Frank Murkowski,                                       
08 Governor; to Aedene Arthur, Backcountry Avalanche Awareness and Response Team; to                                       
09 Doug Fesler and Jill Fredston, co-directors, The Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Inc.; to Bill                           
10 Glude, Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center; to the Honorable William Tandeske,                                            
11 Commissioner, Department of Public Safety; to the director, Division of Alaska State                                    
12 Troopers, Alaska Department of Public Safety; to the mayors, chiefs of police, and fire chiefs                          
13 of the Municipality of Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Denali Borough, Haines                                  
14 Borough, City and Borough of Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Matanuska-Susitna                                       
15 Borough, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Cordova, City of Fairbanks, City of Palmer, City                            
16 of Petersburg, City of Seward, City of Skagway, City of Valdez, and City of Wasilla; to the                             
17 operators of the ski areas at Eaglecrest, Alyeska, Alpenglow, Hilltop, Cleary Summit, and                               
18 Cordova Ski Hill; and to legislative communication offices for statewide distribution.