Protecting Floridians From Natural Disasters: Wasserman Schultz Amendment Does Just That

(Washington, DC)  —  A comprehensive program aimed at reducing risks to human life and economic loss caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, and other windstorms will receive funding as a result of an amendment offered by Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) and passed by the House of Representatives. The amendment, offered to the 2008 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill funds the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP) which will help policymakers, private industry, and individual homeowners adopt strategies for reducing risks to human life and economic loss.

“In Florida, we are keenly aware of the destruction caused by hurricanes and tornadoes,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Unfortunately, there remains a critical need for research into how to best prepare communities for the intense destruction that can be caused by high-wind storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes.”

In 2004, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act, became law. The enactment of this legislation established the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, to be comprised of four federal agencies; the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). While the legislation establishing the program passed, the program itself had not been funded. Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s amendment will provide $11.3 million in funding needed to begin the work of the program.

The NWIRP will focus on three primary components:

• Improved understanding of windstorms: Research to improve understanding of and data collection on the impact of severe wind on buildings, structures and infrastructure.

• Windstorm impact assessment: Develop mechanisms for collecting and categorizing information on structural performance; research, development and technology transfer to improve loss estimation, risk assessment systems and computational modeling of windstorm impacts.

• Windstorm impact reduction: Develop cost-effective windstorm-resistant systems, structures and materials for use in new construction and retrofitting; develop improved outreach and implementation mechanisms to translate information into practice for design and construction professionals and state and local officials and reach out to the public to increase awareness of windstorm hazard vulnerability.

“The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program will now have the resources necessary to ensure that our communities are better prepared when hurricanes and tornadoes impact South Florida,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “By understanding the damage created by windstorms we will be better prepared to survive them in the future. In short, this program will save lives and save money, a win-win for everyone.”