II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3780 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2006 Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to develop a storm surge scale to be used in conjunction with the Saffir-Simpson scale to measure and predict the impact of storm surges caused by hurricanes and tropical storms and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Predict Accurate Storm Surge Act of 2006.

2.

Development of storm surge scale

(a)

Requirement to develop storm surge scale

(1)

In general

Not later than June 1, 2007, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce shall develop a storm surge scale to be used in conjunction with the Saffir-Simpson scale to measure and predict the impact of storm surges caused by storm events, including hurricanes and tropical storms. (2)

Cooperation and consultation

The Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere shall develop the storm surge scale described in paragraph (1) in cooperation with the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Director of United States Geological Survey, the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Department of Homeland Security, and in consultation with appropriate national, regional, and state engineering, flood plain, and emergency managers organizations. (b)

Considerations

The storm surge scale developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall take into account factors related to the storm that will produce the storm surge, including wind speed and rainfall amounts and the characteristics of the area where the storm will make landfall, including the slope of the continental shelf and shape of the coastline of such area and whether such area is urban or rural area. (c)

Requirements

The storm surge scale developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be— (1)developed to assist in the accurate modeling and prediction of the effect of a storm surge upon landfall and to assist officials in planning for the storm surge; (2)used to measure the storm surge associated with storm events, including hurricanes and tropical storms; and (3)incorporated into the engineering and design of appropriate coastal, flood, and hurricane protection projects carried out by the United States.