Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act

This bill aims to make coastal flooding and storm surge forecasts more accurate and easier to use, so people and cities can better prepare. It tells NOAA to set up a program with the weather industry and universities to improve real-time predictions, reduce deaths and property damage, and provide forecasts that show chances and levels of risk, not just worst-case scenarios. It also works with FEMA and USGS to improve tools and models used by emergency managers and planners. The program will test new sensors and tech (like drones, aircraft, vessels, and satellites) and measure how well the forecasts work. A detailed plan is due within 180 days, with yearly budget updates after that.

The bill also tackles “data gaps” in places that are under‑observed or highly at risk. It requires more weather observations (including urban heat mapping), better information sharing with emergency operations centers, workforce training for forecasters and emergency officials, and pilot projects to put local weather data to work in daily decisions. At least one pilot must help use local “mesonet” data and provide tools and training for owners of critical infrastructure, like dams, power plants (including nuclear), and transportation networks. It also supports efforts to better capture extreme rainfall in hilly areas and to build a national heat‑health information system. These efforts are done with the National Weather Service and FEMA to improve fairness and coverage across the United States and its territories.

Key points

• Who is affected: Coastal communities; emergency managers; federal, state, Tribal, and local officials; meteorologists; and owners/operators of critical infrastructure like dams, energy facilities, nuclear plants, and transportation systems.
• What changes: New NOAA program to improve coastal flood and surge forecasts; better models and tools; new sensors and data; more observations in under‑served areas; improved decision support and training; pilot projects to use local data in planning and emergency response.
• When: NOAA must publish a program plan within 180 days and provide annual budget updates after that.