119-hr4563

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4563 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4563

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

 July 21, 2025

 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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