Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) is an “American Hero.”
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ProtectingAmerica.org–“the largest national coalition of first responders, businesses and individuals concerned with improving preparedness in advance of massive natural events and speeding recovery in their aftermath”–recognized Sanchez as one of 67 “American Hero” recipients for 2009 for her “tireless efforts in preparing for and protecting families and communities from natural catastrophe.”
“The American Hero
Award is one way for us to thank and recognize the recipients for their
ongoing commitment and dedication to preparing families for the
unthinkable,” said ProtectingAmerica co-chairman James Lee
Witt, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). “Their efforts will ultimately save lives and protect
property when massive natural catastrophes strike.”
Sanchez is vice chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
“Through the efforts of
this year's awardees, we are confident that America will move closer to
the kind of comprehensive and integrated program that is needed to
truly protect the 6-in-10 American families that live in areas that are
vulnerable to massive hurricanes and earthquakes,” Witt said.
ProtectingAmerica.org boasts membership from more than 20,000 individual members, the American
Red Cross, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and more than
300 other organizations and businesses.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.