Sec. 6. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of future flood risks and hazardous flash flood events
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Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall— conduct an assessment of— the flash flood watches and warnings of the National Weather Service; and the information delivery to support preparation and responses to floods; and submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Under Secretary with respect to the assessment required by subparagraph (A). The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following: An evaluation of whether the watches, warnings, and information described in paragraph (1)(A)— communicate risk to the general public; inform action to prevent loss of life and property; inform action to support flood preparation and response; and deliver information in a manner designed to lead to appropriate action.
Subject to subsection (b)(2), such recommendations as the Under Secretary may have for— legislative and administrative action to improve the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and such research as the Under Secretary considers necessary to address the focus areas described in paragraph (3). The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall focus on the following areas: Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous flash flood events to the public that are most likely to result in informed decision making regarding the mitigation of those risks.
Ways to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a flash flood, including partnering with emergency response agencies, as appropriate. Evaluation of information delivery to support the preparation for and response to floods. In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall consult with— such line offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary considers relevant, including— the National Ocean Service; the National Weather Service; and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; individuals in the academic sector, including individuals in the field of social and behavioral sciences; other weather services; media outlets and other entities that distribute the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i); emergency planners and responders, including State, local, and Tribal emergency management agencies; other government users of the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i), including the Federal Highway Administration; and such other Federal agencies as the Under Secretary determines rely on watches and warnings regarding flash floods for operational decisions.
The Under Secretary shall engage with the National Academy of Sciences, as the Under Secretary considers necessary and practicable, including by contracting with the National Research Council to review the scientific and technical soundness of the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), including the recommendations under paragraph (2)(B). In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall use such methodologies as the Under Secretary considers are generally accepted by the weather enterprise, including social and behavioral sciences.
Based on the assessment required by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Under Secretary shall make such improvements to the watches and warnings described in that subsection as the Under Secretary considers necessary— to improve the communication of the risks posed by hazardous flash flood events; and to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a flash flood. In conducting the assessment required by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Under Secretary shall ensure that any recommendation under subsection (a)(2)(B) that the Under Secretary considers a major change— is validated by social and behavioral science using a generalizable sample; accounts for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions; responds to the needs of Federal, State, local, and Tribal government partners and media partners; and accounts for necessary changes to federally operated watch and warning propagation and dissemination infrastructure and protocols.
In this section: Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the terms watch and warning , with respect to a hazardous flash flood event, mean products issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, intended for use by the general public— to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of the event; and to inform action to prevent loss of life and property. The terms watch and warning do not include technical or specialized meteorological and hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.
The term weather enterprise has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8501 ).
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Sec. 6
Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of future flood risks and hazardous flash flood events
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