Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
august 2017

The Monthly Review is part of a continuing effort to improve communications about the role of geoscience in policy.
Current and archived monthly reviews are available online.

Subscribe to receive the Monthly Review directly.

natural hazards

Wildfires emerging as a hot topic on the Hill

August 3, 2017

As the U.S. endures another fire season, legislators on the Hill are seeking to address some of the challenges associated with managing wildland fires on federal land. A hearing held by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on August 3 tackled the complex challenges in reducing wildland fire risk, focusing primarily on wildfire management programs and technologies.

The hearing discussed the collaboration that is required to reduce risks to firefighters, communities, and resources, and covered the emerging technological and budgeting hurdles facing wildfire management. Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) both expressed support for implementing new technologies such as drones and tanker aircrafts to fight fires more efficiently, and weather models to better predict fire behavior. 

Republicans and Democrats agree that funding is one of the main obstacles to effective wildfire management, and have introduced legislation this year to address the financial burden. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization Act of 2017 (S.1571), which was introduced by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) in July and cosponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), includes a provision to classify procedure for the declaration of wildfires as major disasters. This new requirement would allow the U.S. Forest Service to use disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) when fighting fires, thus reducing or ending the practice of “fire borrowing” wherein the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior (DOI) utilize funds from non-fire accounts to pay for fire suppression activities. The Senate has not taken action yet on the bill.

Sources: Library of Congress, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Federal science agencies help prepare and respond to Hurricane Harvey

August 29, 2017

In anticipation of Hurricane Harvey making landfall on the Gulf Coast, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) were preparing for the massive storm by monitoring its development and helping to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) resources towards the likely hard-hit areas.

The USGS teams on the ground deployed storm-tide sensors to measure storm surge levels and the effects of flooding on the coast. The USGS also implemented their Coastal Change Forecast Model to predict beach erosion caused by the storm, which could be used by emergency managers to identify high-risk areas to evacuate. The USGS streamgage network, which operates year-round, measured flood levels as rain inundated Texas.

NOAA and NASA satellites were used to track the storm as it developed, assisting with predictions related to wind speeds, precipitation levels, and storm risks. On August 22, days before Harvey reached the coast, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted that rainfall would exceed two feet, with strong storm surges and flooding resulting from hurricane-force winds as Harvey moved onto land. NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite measured soil moisture in Texas before Harvey, finding that soils were already saturated with water before the storm hit, indicating a higher flood risk.

FEMA and its federal partners will continue to mobilize personnel and resources to support state, local and tribal efforts throughout Texas and Louisiana. Relief and recovery funds will likely come from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which needs to be funded with the rest of the Federal Budget in order to provide aid past September 30th.

Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration