WARN Act
The Weather Alert Response and Notification Act (the WARN Act) would require the Comptroller General of the United States (the head of the Government Accountability Office, GAO) to conduct a nationwide study on how effective local, state, territorial, and federal emergency alerting systems are at delivering timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies. The study would look at how well various alert methods work (including social media and other platforms), whether there is adequate guidance and training to craft clear and actionable alerts, and whether improvements could be made to public alerting approaches such as outdoor siren systems. The findings would be reported to Congress within 18 months, with the aim of helping communities develop better emergency response policies and enhance public safety.
Key Points
- 1The bill directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the effectiveness of emergency alerting systems at local, state/territory, and federal levels during weather-related emergencies.
- 2The study must evaluate the usefulness of different alert mediums, including social media, and consider alerts related to travel bans and mass power outages during extreme weather.
- 3It requires assessment of whether there is adequate guidance and training for creating alert content that is clear, relevant, and actionable for the public.
- 4It should determine if improvements could be made to public alerting systems, including outdoor siren systems, based on input from a sample of emergency managers, local officials, and community groups.
- 5A report detailing the study’s findings must be submitted to specified congressional committees within 18 months after enactment.