Brownsville prepares for U.S. Census

Preparation was the underlying topic at Tuesday's City Commission workshop: preparing for U.S. Census 2010 and for hurricanes and tropical storms.

April 1, 2010 is U.S. Census day.

Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census, a population count of everyone living in the U.S., is conducted every 10 years.

U.S. Census representatives visited with the City Commission Tuesday and provided data, noting that census figures are used to distribute congressional seats and $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.

"People need to participate," Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. said. "It means millions of dollars to the community and region."

"Make sure that you are counted," Ahumada said.

The U.S. Census Bureau Web site also has been distributing information about the upcoming census count.

The census bureau also emphasizes that the answers residents provide are protected by law and are strictly confidential.

"Information collected is used for statistical purposes only," the bureau emphasized.

Questionnaires will be available in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

The City Commission was asked to support the census and to create a committee to bring awareness and attention to the required process.

City officials also plan to disseminate information through the city's television channel.

"No tengan miedo (don't be afraid)," Commissioner Ricardo Longoria Jr. urged people in the U.S. legally or not.

Assistant City Manager and Emergency Management & Homeland Security Coordinator Jeff Johnston noted that while the odds of being struck by a meteorite is one in 100 trillion, the odds of a direct hit by a hurricane on Brownsville is one in 115.

"That is a sobering statistic," Johnston told the City Commission, while the odds of a hurricane or tropical storm having an impact on the city are one in five.

"And that is the reason why we prepare," said Johnston, adding that planning and practice also are part of the preparedness process.

The city will be sponsoring a Hurricane Fair on July 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Brownsville Public Library on Central Boulevard.

Johnston also said that city staff continues with projects to lessen impact from flooding.

Furthermore, Brownsville is the 49th city in the state to receive StormReadyCQ certification from the National Weather Service, which speaks to the city's ability to be prepared and effectively respond to weather events and disseminate information to the community.