[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6080 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6080
To require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
out research and development to improve the understanding of how the
public receives, interprets, and responds to and values hurricane
forecasts and warnings, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 26, 2023
Mr. Frost (for himself and Mr. Webster of Florida) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
out research and development to improve the understanding of how the
public receives, interprets, and responds to and values hurricane
forecasts and warnings, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fixing Gaps in Hurricane
Preparedness Act''.
SEC. 2. HURRICANE SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (in this section referred to as the
``Administrator''), in consultation with the Director of the National
Science Foundation, shall carry out research and development to improve
the understanding of how the public receives, interprets, and responds
to and values hurricane forecasts and warnings.
(b) Research and Development.--In conducting the research and
development in accordance with subsection (a), the Administrator
shall--
(1) conduct a comprehensive review of what is known about
how the public receives, interprets, and responds to and makes
decisions regarding hurricane forecasts and warnings,
including--
(A) how the connections between weather
observations, downstream models, and processes affect
the decision tools or products derived from such
hurricane forecasts and warnings;
(B) how such hurricane forecasts and warnings
generated by decision tools and products are used by
emergency managers, governments, and other users to
benefit the public and stakeholder groups;
(C) how past experiences with hurricanes impacts
decision making;
(D) how the source of such hurricane forecasts and
warnings affects interpretation;
(E) how tropical cyclone warnings and watches are
received and interpreted;
(F) how understanding of and response to such
hurricane forecasts and warnings vary across
demographic groups, including the elderly, people with
disabilities, and other vulnerable populations;
(G) language barriers; and
(H) how understanding and response to such
hurricane forecasts and warnings varies across
geographic areas, including rural, urban, and suburban.
(2) identify data gaps based on the review conducted
pursuant to paragraph (1);
(3) taking into the account the data gaps identified
pursuant to paragraph (2), carry out social and behavioral
research, including data collection, to improve the
understanding of how the public, including vulnerable
populations, receive, interpret, and respond to hurricane
forecasts and warnings and to inform evidence-based updates to
existing hurricane forecasts and warnings;
(4) carry out research, including data collection, to
evaluate and quantify the economic value of extending lead
times of tropical cyclone warnings and watches, including to
vulnerable populations;
(5) identify affected populations and gather data to
conduct baseline assessments;
(6) conduct retrospective assessments of previous hurricane
forecasts and warnings and improvements to better understand
the key components of the value of the forecasts and warnings
provided;
(7) conduct ex ante assessments based on potential
forecasts and warnings improvements and expected actions or
behavior changes;
(8) conduct cost benefit analysis of forecasts and warnings
improvement alternatives;
(9) conduct risk assessments for pre-, during, and post-
storm periods in regions and communities with significant
elderly populations, including retirement communities;
(10) establish policies and procedures for the collection,
archiving, and stewardship of data on community response,
including the response of vulnerable populations, to high-
impact tropical systems; and
(11) integrate and consider research and development
described in this subsection in the development or enhancement
of hurricane products, information, and services.
(c) Pilot Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days, the Administrator
shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate
entity, as determined by the Administrator, to conduct a pilot
study using a mixed methods approach, such as surveys, focus
groups, and interviews, to gather information from hurricane
prone population areas regarding their levels of preparedness
for hurricanes. The surveys shall evaluate the following:
(A) Possession of disaster supplies.
(B) Evacuation decisions.
(C) Levels of trust of tropical cyclone information
from various sources.
(D) Access to tropical cyclone warnings in a survey
participant's first language.
(E) Determination regarding a survey participant's
reasoning that may hinder the ability of such a
participant to evacuate or willingness to evacuate.
(F) Any additional information the Administrator
determines necessary.
(2) Additional criteria.--The pilot study described in
paragraph (1) shall define its methodology and be made publicly
available on a website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
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