Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4563
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-21: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-17T12:17:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act aims to enhance public safety during hurricanes by directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct research on how people receive, understand, react to, and value hurricane forecasts and warnings. This focuses on improving communication and decision-making to better prepare communities, especially vulnerable groups.
Key Provisions
- Research and Development Mandate: NOAA's Administrator, working with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director, must perform studies to understand public interactions with hurricane information. This includes:
- A full review of existing knowledge on how forecasts influence decisions, covering factors like past experiences, information sources, demographic differences (e.g., elderly, disabled, or non-English speakers), and geographic variations (rural, urban, suburban).
- Identifying gaps in current data.
- Collecting new social and behavioral data to update forecasts and warnings based on evidence.
- Evaluating the economic benefits of longer warning times.
- Conducting baseline assessments of affected populations, retrospective reviews of past events, forward-looking (ex ante) assessments of potential improvements, cost-benefit analyses, and risk assessments for areas with high elderly populations (e.g., retirement communities).
- Establishing data collection and archiving policies for community responses, particularly from vulnerable groups.
- Integrating findings into NOAA's hurricane products, information, and services.
- Pilot Study Requirement: Within 180 days of enactment, NOAA must partner with an external entity to run a pilot study in hurricane-prone areas using surveys, focus groups, and interviews. The study will assess:
- Possession of emergency supplies.
- Evacuation choices.
- Trust in information from different sources.
- Access to warnings in participants' primary languages.
- Barriers to evacuation.
- Other relevant factors as determined by NOAA.
- The study's methods must be publicly available on NOAA's website.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new requirements for NOAA to prioritize social, behavioral, and economic research on hurricane communications, which were not previously mandated at this level of detail. It builds on NOAA's existing forecasting role by adding a focus on human behavior and data-driven improvements, without directly amending prior laws like the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: NOAA will face increased responsibilities for research, data management, and partnerships (e.g., with NSF and external entities), potentially requiring additional funding or resources. Emergency managers and local governments may benefit from more tailored warning tools.
- Citizens: Vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly, disabled, non-English speakers) could see improved warnings and preparedness resources, leading to better evacuation decisions and reduced risks during storms. Overall, the public may experience more effective, evidence-based hurricane information.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced U.S. hurricane forecasting could indirectly support global weather data sharing through international NOAA collaborations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- NOAA and NSF: Primary implementers responsible for research, pilot studies, and integrating findings.
- Public and Vulnerable Groups: Residents in hurricane-prone areas, including the elderly, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and those in rural/urban/suburban settings, who stand to gain from better warnings.
- Emergency Managers, Governments, and Businesses: Users of forecast data who influence public safety decisions and economic planning.
- Research Entities: Academic or private partners involved in pilot studies and data collection.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill imposes clear directives on a federal agency (NOAA) without creating new regulatory burdens on the public, ensuring compliance through standard congressional oversight. It emphasizes data stewardship, which aligns with privacy laws like those under the Paperwork Reduction Act for surveys.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it falls within Congress's authority to regulate commerce and promote general welfare by improving disaster preparedness.
- Political: Could enhance bipartisan support for disaster resilience, particularly in hurricane-vulnerable states like Florida (sponsors' home state), by addressing gaps in public response without partisan controversy. It promotes equity for underserved groups, potentially influencing future funding debates for NOAA.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-21: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-07-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act — issued 2025-07-21 — PDF (6 pages)