Bill Overview
Title: FLOODS Act
Description: This act addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For example, the act directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to inform and provide for timely decisions to reduce flood-related effects and costs. NOAA must also establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions. In addition, NOAA must (1) evaluate and improve flash flood watches and warnings, (2) estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation, and (3) identify gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts. Further, NOAA must ensure that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets (i.e., a network of certain weather observing stations). In addition, the National Weather Service must designate a service coordination hydrologist at each of its River Forecast Centers to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level. Finally, the act establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Target Audience
Population: People living in flood, tornado, and hurricane prone areas
Estimated Size: 50000000
- Floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes affect millions of people globally each year; ensuring better prediction and management can help reduce fatalities and infrastructure damage.
- The establishment of a National Integrated Flood Information System will impact communities living in flood-prone areas globally, including countries that frequently face significant floods like China, India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.
- Improvements in tornado and hurricane forecasting will primarily benefit countries in regions like North America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.
- Flash flood watches and warnings improvements affect areas with rapid water rise potential, commonly in varied geographical locations such as mountainous regions and urban settings during storms.
- Better water predictions and precipitation communication will benefit agricultural sectors worldwide by informing water resource management and agricultural planning.
- By enhancing the ability to forecast and prepare for severe weather events, this act aims to impact global resilience against natural disasters, which can affect over a billion people who live in disaster-prone areas.
Reasoning
- The act is budget-limited and must prioritize areas and communities most at risk from flood, tornado, and hurricane events. This includes coastal regions and areas known as 'Tornado Alley.'
- The policy’s impact distribution will vary as some areas suffer more frequent and severe weather events than others and thus require more resources for implementation.
- We expect that individuals in flood-prone areas might see an improvement in their perceived wellbeing if the system provides them with timely and accurate information, allowing them to prepare and mitigate effects.
Simulated Interviews
Civil Engineer (Houston, Texas)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better forecasting will help in planning and developing infrastructure that withstands severe weather.
- I would feel more prepared and less anxious knowing we have better systems in place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Restaurant Owner (Miami, Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved warnings will aid preparation and could help save my business from hurricane damages.
- Customers care about safety; if they trust the forecasts, they’ll stick around.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Farmer (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better weather data can improve crop yield predictions and planning.
- Stable forecasts would reduce losses and increase confidence in farming decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accurate flood forecasts are crucial for protecting life and property in retirement.
- The act’s focus on communication should ease evacuation planning, reducing stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Climate Researcher (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act could provide valuable data for hydrological models and improve community outreach.
- Collaboration with educational institutions will advance climate resilience efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
School Teacher (Memphis, Tennessee)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved communication means safer children during storms, which is a priority.
- Schools need detailed forecasts to implement emergency plans efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Truck Driver (Kansas City, Missouri)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Advance notice on severe weather could prevent delays and accidents on the road.
- Improved forecasting is critical for personal safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Health Care Worker (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A coordinated flood information system aids hospital preparedness, important for patient safety.
- Seeing patients impacted by weather disasters has made me value early warnings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
IT Consultant (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy advancement in data integration and accessibility aligns with my professional interests.
- I see it boosting resilience in most affected parts of the country.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Wildlife Biologist (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Environmental data from improved systems will greatly assist in conservation efforts.
- Understanding flash flood patterns is crucial for wildlife planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $41600000, High: $62400000)
Year 3: $54080000 (Low: $43264000, High: $64896000)
Year 5: $58364160 (Low: $46691328, High: $70137024)
Year 10: $72266485 (Low: $57813188, High: $86719782)
Year 100: $222659947 (Low: $178127957, High: $267191936)
Key Considerations
- The cost estimates are reliant on the necessary underlying infrastructure already existing for integration and enhancement.
- There is an assumption that the higher education partnerships will match some of the funding required, reducing costs.
- Long-term benefits from improved disaster preparedness could mitigate annual spending on recovery and aid.
- The emphasis on federal and state coordination may result in implementation delays that affect short-term cost realizations.