FLOODS Act
Dec 27, 2022
Statute: 136 Stat. 4406
Became law: Dec 27, 2022
Dec 27, 2022
Statute: 136 Stat. 4406
Became law: Dec 27, 2022
Summary
Creates a national system to give better flood warnings and information to help people and governments make timely decisions and reduce flood damage.
What problem does this solve?
Flood information was often scattered and not delivered quickly, making it hard for communities to prepare for dangerous floods. This law creates a single, national system to collect and share reliable flood forecasts and data to improve safety and reduce costs.
What does this law do?
Creates a National Integrated Flood Information System (NIFIS)
Establishes a new system within NOAA to provide an effective flood early warning system, collect data, and make timely forecasts to reduce flood damage.
Appoints service coordination hydrologists
Requires the National Weather Service to place at least one service coordination hydrologist at each River Forecast Center to improve communication with local communities and agencies.
Establishes an interagency water committee
Creates the Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure federal agencies work together on water storage, quality, and infrastructure issues.
Improves flood risk communication
Requires an assessment of flash flood watches and warnings to make them easier for the public to understand and act upon, preventing loss of life and property.
Creates a national precipitation atlas
Directs NOAA to create and maintain a publicly available atlas of precipitation frequency for the United States to better inform the public and government.
Starts a hydrologic research fellowship
Establishes a fellowship program to train graduate students in hydrology and related fields, and gives federal agencies authority to hire them directly after completion.
Who does this affect?
- Communities in flood-prone areas
- Emergency management agencies
- Water resource managers
What is the real world impact?
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Improves flood safety and preparedness
Creates a unified national system for flood information to provide more timely and accurate warnings, helping communities prepare for and respond to flood events, ultimately saving lives and property.
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Centralizes federal water data
Establishes an interagency committee and a central information system within NOAA, streamlining how the federal government manages and shares water and flood data, which could increase efficiency but also concentrates authority.
When does this start?
This law takes effect immediately, with several key reports and assessments due within the first two years of its passage on December 27, 2022.
Snow data gap analysis report
A report on gaps in snow-related data for predicting floods must be submitted to Congress within 180 days of the law's enactment.
Water policy research needs
The new Interagency Committee on Water Management must develop and submit a list of cross-agency research needs to Congress within one year of the law's enactment.
Flash flood warning assessment
An assessment of the effectiveness of flash flood watches and warnings must be completed and reported to Congress within two years of the law's enactment.