The U.S. experienced 25 weather and climate-related disaster events this year – each event exceeded $1B dollars in damages, resulting in nearly 500 deaths 

Bill would expand National Weather Service radio alert coverage to reach 98-99% of the United States

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio Modernization Act and the National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act, bipartisan bills aimed at modernizing the nation’s weather communication and radio service as the country faces increasing weather disasters. The bills were introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee, and Ranking Member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in May 2023 and passed the Commerce Committee the same month. The bills now head to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Gaps in weather radio coverage keep communities in the dark about incoming weather hazards, that’s why I’m proud that these two bipartisan bills that passed the Senate would finally upgrade the National Weather Service warning technology, expand radio alert coverage in rural and tribal communities, and repair weather radio stations across the country, including 17 stations in the State of Washington,” said Sen. Cantwell. “The threat from weather events is only increasing, especially with El Nino bringing atmospheric rivers and winter storms this season, so access to reliable, real-time alerts are more important than ever to keep their families safe and homes secure. It’s critical that we modernize our outdated technology, and I will keep working to get these important bills signed into law.” 

“When severe storms take out communications systems in Texas or other states, Americans need a reliable way to learn about weather hazards,” said Sen. Cruz. “Our bipartisan effort to modernize NOAA’s Weather Radio will ensure Texans and all Americans have a fully functioning, reliable early warning system that communicates critical information during disasters.”

The NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act would:

• Require upgrades to outdated weather radio technology to provide reliable and continuous weather and emergency alerts.
• Expand radio coverage to rural areas that do not currently have access to the National Weather Radio alert system.
• Increase National Weather Radio coverage to reach 98-99% of the United States population.
• Update National Weather Radio infrastructure and reduce reliance on copper wire transmissions – which are increasingly unreliable because copper is impacted by extreme temperature changes and severe weather.

The National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act would:

• Improve the National Weather Service’s internal instant messaging system.
• Implement a modern cloud system to accommodate more users and faster service. 

As many states continue to battle severe weather — several communities have faced weather radio outages, including earlier this year when National Weather Service weather radio transmitters in Nashville and Knoxville went down and were unable to send critical weather alerts to residents during storms. So far this year, the United States has experienced 25 weather and climate-related disaster events that each exceeded $1 billion dollars in damages, resulting in 482 deaths. In recent years, Washington state has experienced a record-breaking and deadly heat dome, historic flooding that damaged more than 2,000 homes and businesses, along with 1,884 wildfires this year alone that burned more than 165,365 acres across the state.

NOAA’s National Weather Service operates a nationwide network of public radio stations that broadcast weather warnings, forecasts and emergency information 24/7. NOAA Weather Radio includes more than 1,000 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.S. Pacific Territories. Broadcasts include warnings, watches and forecasts for natural disasters like storms, fire, earthquakes, avalanches and even environmental hazards such as chemical or oil spills. According to NOAA, more than 400 National Weather Service transmitters will need to be replaced in the next five years.

Sen. Cantwell authored $3.3 billion in NOAA investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to help communities prepare for and adapt to climate change, boost science needed to understand changing weather and climate patterns, and invest in advanced computer technologies that are critical for extreme weather prediction and emergency response. In 2022, Sen. Cantwell introduced the Fire Ready Nation Act, which passed the Committee in May 2022, to establish a fire weather services program within NOAA – authorizing engagement in wildfire response activities, and providing funding for science and technologies to forecast weather conditions that cause and spread wildfires, as well as weather products needed on the ground to inform and protect first responders during a fire.