TORNADO Act
The Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development of Operations Act (TORNADO Act) is a comprehensive set of amendments and new programs designed to improve forecasting, communication, and understanding of tornadoes and other hazardous weather. Key features include establishing a dedicated Hazard Risk Communication Office within NOAA to simplify and strengthen public alerts; funding and guiding research into risk communication, social science, and the physics of tornadoes; launching a pilot tornado hazard communication program focused on historically underserved institutions; creating a robust post-storm survey framework using data from federal, state, local, and academic partners; and expanding a program (VORTEX-USA) to rapidly improve tornado forecasts and warnings with an emphasis on probabilistic guidance and hazard communication. The bill also requires a strategic plan for high-resolution forecast capability, evaluates and potentially updates the tornado rating system, and directs a GAO review of alert dissemination infrastructure. Overall, the act aims to make warnings timelier, more accurate, and easier for the public to act upon, while expanding research and capacity-building at universities and national labs. The act calls for substantial coordination across NOAA, federal and state partners, tribal communities, and higher-education institutions, with targeted emphasis on vulnerable populations and minority-serving institutions. It would authorize new or redirected funding (notably $11 million annually for VORTEX-USA with at least $2 million for grants) to support research, development, and deployment of improved tornado forecasts, warnings, and risk communication, and it would streamline or replace certain existing reporting requirements to focus on outcomes and public safety.
Key Points
- 1Hazard risk communication reform: Establishes a Hazard Risk Communication Office within NOAA to simplify terms, improve messaging, and develop metrics to measure how communications influence public actions to save lives and property; requires coordination with federal, state, local, tribal, academic, and media partners.
- 2Tornado hazard communication research and pilot: Creates a research program to modernize risk-based, probabilistic hazard information and funds a pilot program for tornado hazard communication with eligible institutions, including historically Black colleges/universities in areas prone to severe weather and nearby Weather Forecast Offices.
- 3Priority grants and minority-serving institutions: Under VORTEX-USA, authorizes grant-making in social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences, with a priority for minority-serving institutions (several listed categories such as HBCUs, tribal colleges, minority-serving colleges, etc.).
- 4Post-storm surveys and data: Requires post-storm surveys/assessments for major events, coordinates data collection with multiple partners, makes data public timely, explores use of uncrewed aerial systems, and expands community-impact studies and survivability data; also provides mental health support for staff conducting surveys.
- 5VORTEX-USA program overhaul: Amends the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act to rename and expand the program to focus on rapid improvement of tornado forecasts and warnings, maintain probabilistic guidance research, and integrate hazard communication research; includes new funding and governance provisions.
- 6Forecasting and communications plan: Requires a one-year strategic plan for high-resolution probabilistic forecast guidance and a framework to improve observations, computational needs, visualization, real-time forecasts, and inter-office coordination to reduce conflicting predictions.
- 7Tornado rating system review: The Under Secretary must evaluate the current tornado severity rating system and update it if needed to reflect true tornado severity.
- 8GAO evaluation of alert infrastructure: Requires a GAO report within 540 days analyzing NOAA’s IT, data management, and alert dissemination reliability, including backup systems and interagency collaboration.
- 9Relief from certain old reporting burdens: Removes or streamlines certain reporting requirements from prior statutes to reduce administrative overhead.