[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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