H.R. 3771: Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act

This bill, known as the Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act, aims to improve the forecasting and understanding of coastal flooding and storm surge events. Here’s a summary of its main components:

Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Forecast Improvement Program

The bill establishes a program led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The key objective of this program is to minimize the loss of life and property caused by coastal flooding and storm surges. This will involve:

• Enhancing real-time predictions of coastal flooding and storm surge events.
• Improving the understanding and response capabilities of coastal communities to flooding forecasts.
• Incorporating data from various sensors into predictive models.
• Generating probabilistic estimates of coastal flooding scenarios for effective long-term planning by government entities.
• Establishing metrics to assess the effectiveness of forecasting methods.
• Improving regional models for storm surge and wave predictions.

Data Collection in Vulnerable Areas

The legislation emphasizes the need for comprehensive weather observations across the U.S., specifically targeting regions that lack sufficient monitoring or are particularly vulnerable to weather-related disasters. Actions under this section include:

• Identifying under-observed regions that face threats from severe weather.
• Finding challenges that hinder effective weather monitoring in these areas.
• Enhancing weather observation capabilities, with a focus on specific vulnerable areas.
• Implementing decision-support services for local emergency management.
• Advancing weather and climate modeling for high-risk areas.
• Developing the skills of emergency management personnel and meteorologists.
• Using observational data to refine rainfall forecasts, particularly in complex terrains.

Interagency Partnerships

The bill also establishes a partnership between various federal agencies aimed at supporting pilot projects. These projects will focus on improving the use of localized weather data for infrastructure and emergency management decisions.

One requirement is that at least one pilot project should address challenges related to integrating localized weather data into the management of critical infrastructures like dams, energy facilities, and transportation systems.

Program Implementation and Oversight

After the bill is enacted, the Under Secretary is tasked with creating a detailed plan outlining the research and resources needed for the program within 180 days. The Under Secretary must also submit an annual budget to Congress to ensure funding for these activities.

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