Inland Flood Forecasting and Warning System Act of 2002
PL 107-253 (H.R.2486), enacted 10/29/2002

PUBLIC LAW 107-253-OCT. 29, 2002 
116 STAT. 1731 
Public Law 107-253 
107th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through the 
United States Weather Research Program, to conduct research and development, 
Oct. 29, 2002 
training, and outreach activities relating to inland flood forecasting improvement, 
[HR 2486] 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Inland Flood 
Forecasting and 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Warning System 
This Act may be cited as the "Inland Flood Forecasting and 
i5USC3iinote 
Warning System Act of 2002". 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. 
15 USC 313c. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through 
the United States Weather Research Program, shall— 
(1) improve the capability to accurately forecast inland 
flooding (including inland flooding influenced by coastal and 
ocean storms) through research and modeling; 
(2) develop, test, and deploy a new flood warning index 
that will give the public and emergency management officials 
fuller, clearer, and more accurate information about the risks 
and dangers posed by expected floods; 
(3) train 
emergency 
management 
officials. 
National 
Weather Service personnel, meteorologists, and others as appro-
priate regarding improved forecasting techniques for inland 
flooding, risk management techniques, and use of the inland 
flood warning index developed under paragraph (2); 
(4) conduct outreach and education activities for local mete-
orologists and the public regarding the dangers and risks associ-
ated with inland flooding and the use and understanding of 
the inland flood warning index developed under paragraph 
(2); and 
(5) assess, through research and analysis of previous 
trends, among other activities— 
(A) the long-term trends in frequency and severity 
of inland flooding; and 
(B) how shifts in climate, development, and erosion 
patterns might make certain regions vulnerable to more 
continual or escalating flood damage in the future. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
15 USC 313c 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration 
for 
canying out this Act 
$1,250,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2005, of which 
$100,000 for each fiscal year shall be available for competitive 
116 STAT. 1732 
PUBLIC LAW 107-253—OCT. 29, 2002 
Deadlines. 
15 u s e 313c 
note. 
merit-reviewed grants to institutions of higher education (as defined 
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001)) to carry out the activities described in section 2(5), and 
$1,150,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 and 2007. Of the 
amounts authorized under this section, $250,000 for each fiscal 
year shall be available for competitive merit-reviewed grants to 
institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to develop models 
that can improve the ability to forecast the coastal and estuary-
inland flooding that is influenced by tropical cyclones. The models 
should incorporate the interaction of such factors as storm surges, 
soil saturation, and other relevant phenomena. 
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2007, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall transmit 
to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on its activities under this Act and the success 
and acceptance of the inland flood warning index developed under 
section 2(2) by the public and emergency management professionals. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall also, 
not later than January 1, 2006, transmit to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the likely long-term trends in inland flooding, the results of 
which shall be used in outreach activities conducted under section 
2(4), especially to alert the public and builders to flood hazards. 
Approved October 29, 2002. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2486: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-495 (Comm. on Science). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 107-310 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002): 
July 11, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 16, considered and passed Senate.