Wicker’s bipartisan FLOODS Act establishes nationwide, integrated flood information system

Bipartisan legislation introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) would establish a national integrated flood information system within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

“This legislation would protect lives and property by directing NOAA to improve its flood monitoring, forecasting, and communication efforts,” said Sen. Wicker, chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “I am eager to see the measure advance for Mississippians and all Americans who face dangers caused by flooding.”

Sen. Wicker on Aug. 6 sponsored the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support (FLOODS) Act, S. 4462, with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) to establish the National Integrated Flood Information System, which would improve the NOAA’s forecasting and communication of flood, tornado and hurricane events.

“Flooding is a common and deadly natural disaster in the U.S., resulting in over $25 billion in annual economic losses,” said Sen. Wicker. “Recent events in my home state of Mississippi, such as the prolonged opening of the Bonnet Carré spillway and the Pearl River and Yazoo backwater floods, underscore the importance of an effective understanding and response to high water.”

If enacted, S. 4462 also would establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions; designate a service coordination hydrologist at each National Weather Service River Forecast Center to increase decision support services at the state and local levels; and create a committee to ensure federal departments coordinate if they have joint or overlapping responsibilities in water management, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Wicker’s office.

Additionally, S. 4462 would encourage NOAA to evaluate acoustic tracking and measuring of windstorms, use aerial surveys of floodwaters to improve flood mapping and improve modeling of freshwater outflow into the ocean, according to the summary.

“This bipartisan legislation would help protect families and small businesses along high-risk shorelines and other communities by modernizing flood forecasts to provide more timely, actionable information,” said Sen. Peters.