This bill would require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create and keep a public database and webpage that lists each "billion-dollar disaster" that happens each year in the United States. The database must be updated at least twice a year as new information becomes available. For each listed disaster, the database must include the estimated cost, the type of disaster, the location, the date or dates, and any other information the Administrator finds appropriate. The site must include visual graphs and maps like those produced by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) from 1980 through 2024 and previously hosted at the NCEI webpage. NOAA must use data available to it and may work with federal and non-federal partners. The Administrator may also add disasters that are not "billion-dollar disasters." The bill requires NOAA to maintain and update the previously existing NCEI disaster database for archiving and research. The bill defines a "billion-dollar disaster" as a storm or severe weather event that causes $1,000,000,000 or more in combined direct and market costs as determined by NCEI.
If the bill becomes law, there would be a publicly available NOAA webpage where anyone can view information about billion-dollar storms and severe weather events. The page would show estimated costs, where and when each event occurred, the type of event, and maps and graphs tracking events over time. NOAA could also include other disasters even if they do not meet the billion-dollar threshold. Researchers, local officials, and members of the public would be able to access the archived NCEI data and the updated database online.
No publicly available information on projected costs, budgets, or sources of funding for creating, maintaining, or hosting the database and webpage is contained in the bill text or the provided metadata.
No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata describes supporters' statements or arguments explaining why the bill was introduced beyond the list of sponsoring Senators.
No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata describes opposition or critics' views of the bill.