Peters, Wicker Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Integrated Flood Information System Advances in Senate

DETROIT, MI – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee this week advanced U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ (MI) bipartisan legislation that would establish a National Integrated Flood Information System. The Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support (FLOODS) Act, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), would specifically provide funding to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ability to forecast floods, hurricanes and tornados and disperse relevant information to local officials and first responders.

“Unexpected severe flooding has too often upended the lives of families and hard-working men and women across the U.S., including in Michigan,” said Senator Peters. “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, and I am pleased this commonsense bill advanced in the Senate.”

“Flooding is a common and deadly natural disaster in the U.S., resulting in over $25 billion in annual economic losses,” said Senator 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. This legislation would protect lives and property by directing NOAA to improve its flood monitoring, forecasting, and communication efforts. I am eager to see the measure advance for Mississippians and all Americans who face dangers caused by flooding.”

“With flash floods occurring more frequently in every corner of the nation, early and reliable detection and warning is critical to save life and property,” said Cheryl Small, Executive Director, National Flood Association. “We believe the integration and partnerships — including with the private sector — that will be developed or improved through this legislation will result in a more prepared and resilient nation.”

“Investing in science and NOAA’s prediction and communication capabilities will help keep communities — particularly vulnerable communities in coastal and inland floodplains—safe,” said Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Union of Concerned Scientists Climate & Energy Program. “This timely legislation will improve the NOAA’s forecasting through comprehensive data collection and integration at multiple levels, including governmental, private and non-governmental agencies and organizations.”

“On behalf of 1.4 million members of the National Association of Realtors, thank you to Senator Peters,” said Vince Malta, President, National Association of Realtors. “The bill would … modernize NOAA forecasting and provide more timely, actionable information that could help avoid flood, tornado, and hurricane losses to both property and life.”

“Improving the nation’s resiliency to natural catastrophes including flooding will take the combined efforts of individuals, communities, businesses, and governments,” said Nathaniel F. Wienecke, Senior Vice President, American Property Casualty Insurance Association. “On behalf of our members, we commend Senator Peters and Senator Wicker for addressing this important issue by taking action to improve flood monitoring and forecasting.”

This legislation is also supported by the American Association of Flood Plain Managers, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Society of Professional Surveyors, and the U.S. Geospatial Executives Organization.

The bipartisan legislation would also form partnerships between NOAA and institutions of higher learning to bolster total water predictions, assign a service coordination hydrologist at each National Weather Service River Forecast Center to support decision making on the local and statewide levels, and establish a committee to increase coordination between federal agencies responsible for water management.

Peters has led numerous efforts to support Michigan communities that have recently been affected by severe flooding events. This past May, Peters introduced a bipartisan bill to provide greater assistance to communities facing ongoing disaster response challenges, such as the dam failure in Midland. Peters also introduced a bipartisan bill this past March that advanced through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters is Ranking Member, to provide support for local communities facing rising water levels, coastal erosion, and flooding that have put homes and property at risk, and caused millions of dollars in damages.

###