Wicker, Peters reintroduce FLOODS Act

A group of Senators this week reintroduced the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support, or FLOODS Act. The legislation seeks to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System.

The lawmakers say the bill would improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecasting and communication of flood, tornado and hurricane events. Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, along with Michigan Democrat Gary Peters, reintroduced the bill.

Wicker says recent flooding events in his state “underscore the importance of an effective understanding and response to high water.” The bill 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 and evaluate and improve flood watches and warnings.

Additionally, the legislation encourages 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.