---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9705"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9705"
heading: "Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of future flood risks and hazardous flash flood events"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9705"
units:
  - "Chapter 121 — Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support"
---

# §9705. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of future flood risks and hazardous flash flood events

- (a) **Assessment of flash flood watches and warnings—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 2 years after December 27, 2022, the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) shall—
    - (A) conduct an assessment of—
      - (i) the flash flood watches and warnings of the National Weather Service; and
      - (ii) the information delivery to support preparation and responses to floods; and
    - (B) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) with respect to the assessment required by [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A).
  - (2) **Elements—** The assessment required by [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) shall include the following:
    - (A) An evaluation of whether the watches, warnings, and information described in [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) effectively—
      - (i) communicate risk to the general public;
      - (ii) inform action to prevent loss of life and property;
      - (iii) inform action to support flood preparation and response; and
      - (iv) deliver information in a manner designed to lead to appropriate action.
    - (B) Subject to [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2), such recommendations as the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) may have for—
      - (i) legislative and administrative action to improve the watches and warnings described in [paragraph (1)(A)(i)](#a-1-A-i); and
      - (ii) such research as the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) considers necessary to address the focus areas described in [paragraph (3)](#a-3).
  - (3) **Focus areas—** The assessment required by [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) shall focus on the following areas:
    - (A) Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous flash flood events to the public that are most likely to result in informed decision making regarding the mitigation of those risks.
    - (B) Ways to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a flash flood, including partnering with emergency response agencies, as appropriate.
    - (C) Evaluation of information delivery to support the preparation for and response to floods.
  - (4) **Consultation—** In conducting the assessment required by [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A), the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) shall consult with—
    - (A) individuals in the academic sector, including individuals in the field of social and behavioral sciences;
    - (B) other weather services;
    - (C) media outlets and other entities that distribute the watches and warnings described in [paragraph (1)(A)(i)](#a-1-A-i);
    - (D) floodplain managers and emergency planners and responders, including [State](/usc/15/9701.md?p=2), local, and Tribal emergency management agencies;
    - (E) other government users of the watches and warnings described in [paragraph (1)(A)(i)](#a-1-A-i), including the Federal Highway [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1); and
    - (F) such other Federal agencies as the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) determines rely on watches and warnings regarding flash floods for operational decisions.
  - (5) **National Academy of Sciences—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) shall engage with the National Academy of Sciences, as the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) considers necessary and practicable, including by contracting with the National Research Council to review the scientific and technical soundness of the assessment required by [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A), including the recommendations under [paragraph (2)(B)](#a-2-B).
  - (6) **Methodologies—** In conducting the assessment required by [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A), the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) shall use such methodologies as the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) considers are generally accepted by the weather enterprise, including social and behavioral sciences.
- (b) **Improvements to flash flood watches and warnings—**
  - (1) **In general—** Based on the assessment required by [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A), the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) shall make such improvements to the watches and warnings described in that subsection as the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) considers necessary—
    - (A) to improve the communication of the risks posed by hazardous flash flood events; and
    - (B) to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a flash flood.
  - (2) **Requirements regarding recommendations—** In conducting the assessment required by [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A), the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) shall ensure that any recommendation under [subsection (a)(2)(B)](#a-2-B) that the [Administrator](/usc/15/9701.md?p=1) considers a major change—
    - (A) is validated by social and behavioral science using a generalizable sample;
    - (B) accounts for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;
    - (C) responds to the needs of Federal, [State](/usc/15/9701.md?p=2), local, and Tribal government partners and media partners; and
    - (D) accounts for necessary changes to federally operated watch and warning propagation and dissemination infrastructure and protocols.
- (c) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Watch; warning—**
    - (A) **In general—** Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#c-1-B), the terms “watch” and “warning”, with respect to a hazardous flash flood event, mean products issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), intended for use by the general public—
      - (i) to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of the event; and
      - (ii) to inform action to prevent loss of life and property.
    - (B) **Exclusion—** The terms “watch” and “warning” do not include technical or specialized meteorological and hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.
  - (2) **Weather enterprise—** The term “weather enterprise” has the meaning given that term in [section 8501 of this title](/usc/15/8501.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 6, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4410.)