National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program
Establishment
Responsibilities of Program agencies
Lead agency
The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall have the primary responsibility for planning and coordinating the Program. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director shall—
ensure that the Program includes the necessary components to promote the implementation of windstorm risk reduction measures by Federal, State, and local governments, national standards and model building code organizations, architects and engineers, and others with a role in planning and constructing buildings and lifelines;
support the development of performance-based engineering tools, and work with appropriate groups to promote the commercial application of such tools, including through wind-related model building codes, voluntary standards, and construction best practices;
request the assistance of Federal agencies other than the Program agencies, as necessary to assist in carrying out this chapter;
coordinate all Federal post-windstorm investigations to the extent practicable; and
when warranted by research or investigative findings, issue recommendations to assist in informing the development of model codes, and provide information to Congress on the use of such recommendations.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation shall support research in—
engineering and the atmospheric sciences to improve the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines; and
economic and social factors influencing windstorm risk reduction measures.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency shall—
support—
the development of risk assessment tools and effective mitigation techniques;
windstorm-related data collection and analysis;
public outreach and information dissemination; and
promotion of the adoption of windstorm preparedness and mitigation measures, including for households, businesses, and communities, consistent with the Agency’s all-hazards approach; and
work closely with national standards and model building code organizations, in conjunction with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to promote the implementation of research results and promote better building practices within the building design and construction industry, including architects, engineers, contractors, builders, and inspectors.
Program components
In general
Understanding of windstorms
Windstorm impact assessment
Activities to improve windstorm impact assessment shall include—
development of mechanisms for collecting and inventorying information on the performance of buildings, structures, and infrastructure in windstorms and improved collection of pertinent information from sources, including the design and construction industry, insurance companies, and building officials;
research, development, and technology transfer to improve loss estimation and risk assessment systems; and
research, development, and technology transfer to improve simulation and computational modeling of windstorm impacts.
Windstorm impact reduction
Activities to reduce windstorm impacts shall include—
development of improved outreach and implementation mechanisms to translate existing information and research findings into cost-effective and affordable practices for design and construction professionals, and State and local officials;
development of cost-effective and affordable windstorm-resistant systems, structures, and materials for use in new construction and retrofit of existing construction; and
outreach and information dissemination related to cost-effective and affordable construction techniques, loss estimation and risk assessment methodologies, and other pertinent information regarding windstorm phenomena to Federal, State, and local officials, the construction industry, and the general public.
Budget activities
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction
Establishment
Membership
In addition to the chair, the Committee shall be composed of—
the heads or such designees of—
the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
the National Science Foundation;
the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
the Office of Management and Budget; and
the head of any other Federal agency, or such designee, the chair considers appropriate.
Meetings
General purpose and duties
Strategic plan
The Committee shall develop and submit to Congress, not later than 1 year after
prioritized goals for the Program that will mitigate against the loss of life and property from future windstorms;
short-term, mid-term, and long-term research objectives to achieve those goals;
a description of the role of each Program agency in achieving the prioritized goals;
the methods by which progress towards the goals will be assessed; and
an explanation of how the Program will foster the transfer of research results into outcomes, such as improved model building codes.
Progress report
Not later than 18 months after
a description of the activities funded under the Program, a description of how these activities align with the prioritized goals and research objectives established in the Strategic Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these activities;
the outcomes achieved by the Program for each of the goals identified in the Strategic Plan;
a description of any recommendations made to change existing building codes that were the result of Program activities; and
a description of the extent to which the Program has incorporated recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction.