January 10, 2017

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) introduced the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act (H.R. 312) on January 10. This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to strengthen tsunami research, detection, forecasting, warning, and mitigation programs.

The act directs NOAA to collaborate with federal agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey and National Science Foundation, to develop and improve tsunami prediction and detection systems. Tsunami forecasting models will incorporate data from satellites, the global seismic network, the Advanced National Seismic System, and airborne remote sensing systems.

U.S. coastal regions are susceptible to potentially destructive tsunami events. This bill will improve current tsunami detection systems to enable earlier tsunami response times. These systems will enable coastal communities to evacuate earlier and act to minimize potential infrastructure and economic damages.

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is currently reviewing the bill.

Sources: U.S. Congress, House.gov