Sherrill’s PRECIP Act Would Take Proactive Steps to Address and Prevent Flooding in New Jersey and Across the Country
Washington, DC–– Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Environment Subcommittee, participated in the committee mark-up of two pieces of her legislation, the Providing Research and Estimates of Changes In Precipitation (PRECIP) Act and the NWR Modernization Act of 2021.
The PRECIP Act, which Rep. Sherrill introduced earlier this year, would update out-of-date precipitation data in the US by providing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with consistent funding to collect data and conduct studies. Precipitation data is used in immediate decisions like evacuation orders during a hurricane, as well as long-term decisions like planning zoning restrictions to minimize climate risks, or buying a mortgage for a new home based on out-of-date Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps.
Since first introducing this legislation in March 2021, New Jersey has faced repeated, catastrophic flooding events, including the deadly flooding events caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which devastated communities across the state and communities across the 11th Congressional District like Little Falls, Woodland Park, and Denville. New Jersey accounted for roughly 35 percent of all deaths related to Hurricane Ida. The storm disrupted transportation across the state, canceling flights, shutting down rail service, and stranding buses and cars on roadways. More accurate and up-to-date data in these situations could be life-saving as communities like these confront the ever-worsening effects of the climate crisis.
Similarly, the NWR Modernization Act of 2021, which Rep. Sherrill co-led in the House alongside Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05) would ensure that the NOAA Weather Radio system has the resources needed to expand coverage, modernize, and improve their warning systems to ensure that communities are well-equipped and well-informed for impending storms.
Watch Rep. Sherrill's testimony here. Transcript of remarks included below:
A couple of months ago, Hurricane Ida, which made landfall over a thousand miles away, caused historic and deadly levels of rainfall and flooding across my district in New Jersey. In fact, according to CDC estimates, over 35% of deaths related to Hurricane Ida were in New Jersey –– the largest share of deaths in any state. The storm also upended transportation across the state, temporarily shutting down Newark International Airport, with nearly 400 flights canceled and an entire terminal closed. NJ Transit rail service was almost entirely suspended, except for the Atlantic City Rail Line, while buses were delayed across the state as they encountered roads closed by flooding and downed trees.
But it's not just Hurricane Ida, climate change is causing all storms to rapidly intensify –– increasing flood risk and putting New Jersey further at risk. Extreme weather events like Ida highlight the ever-growing need for improvements in our ability to forecast and predict heavy rainfall and associated flooding. We've known the dangers of storms in NJ for decades - and the data proves they are getting worse as the years go on: Six people drowned in New Jersey during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, including a resident of Passaic County, which I represent. In 2011, nine people in New Jersey died from Hurricane Irene, most from drowning in the raging flood waters while trapped inside their cars. And at least 40 people from New Jersey died during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. We've got to do better.
We previously heard about the need for improved precipitation data to inform flood maps and management decisions at a Subcommittee hearing I chaired in February 2020 on flood science and flood maps. Much of the precipitation data we have for regions across the US are decades-old and do not account for changes in precipitation frequency and severity due to climate change. NOAA is responsible for updating precipitation frequency estimates and probable maximum precipitation estimates. Updated precipitation data is critical for informing flood risk for flood-prone areas.
For my home state of New Jersey, the last major update to the Atlas 14 precipitation data was in 2006, and before that it was in 1977. We cannot afford to wait thirty years between updates. Climate change demands we be more proactive about our data collection and move from this once-a-generation update approach.
Based on the resounding need for more up-to-date, accurate precipitation data for many parts of the nation, I wrote the Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation, or PRECIP, Act. This bill would mandate NOAA periodically update precipitation studies for all regions and territories of the US to ensure complete coverage. As climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of flooding events in the US and the number of heavy precipitation events, it is essential that communities in my district like Little Falls, Woodland Park, and Denville have the best information possible now and in the future.
It's important to note that this bill is not just about numbers and estimates on a spreadsheet inside a government agency –– ensuring this data is as accurate and up to date as possible is about the health, safety and well-being of our communities as they confront these ever-increasingly dangerous storms. Unfortunately, as my community knows far too well –– this issue can be life or death.
I am grateful to Chairwoman Johnson, Ranking Member Lucas, Ranking Member Bice, and several other members of this Committee for cosponsoring this legislation. I am also pleased that this bill has bipartisan support in the Senate, where Senator Booker has introduced the companion bill with Senator Wicker.
I am also grateful to over a dozen organizations that have expressed their support for this bill. These organizations represent a wide range of stakeholder groups, including scientists, floodplain managers, and engineers.
I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a list of endorsing organizations and a letter of support from the American Geophysical Union.
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Original source can be found here.
