TORNADO Act explained

TORNADO Act
Fullname:Tornado Observation Research Notification and Deployment to Operations (TORNADO) Act
Introduced In The:118th
Introduceddate:April 26, 2023
Sponsored By:Roger Wicker
Number Of Co-Sponsors:8
Public Law Url:https://www.wicker.senate.gov/services/files/CC174156-44DF-4FCC-99CE-A0BC47FF4F9D
Introducedin:Senate
Introducedby:Roger Wicker
Othershorttitles:TORNADO Act

The Tornado Observation Research Notification and Deployment to Operations Act, shortened to the Tornado Act, was introduced by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker as well as eight other senators from the 118th United States Congress on April 26, 2023.[1] [2] [3] [4]

The act aims to increase the time from when a tornado warning is issued to when a tornado hits. The legislation aims to do so through forecasting and understanding,[5] or by bettering communication and issuing.[6]

Background

This bill was introduced in the aftermath of two violent tornado outbreaks in 2023 (March 24–27 and March 31–April 1), which killed 57 people and injured nearly 400 others. One particularly violent tornado struck the town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, with winds estimated at 195mph.

The National Weather Service was only able to give a 20-minute warning for the residents of Rolling Fork. Another driving force for the TORNADO Act was the March 5, 2022 Winterset EF4 tornado.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Some thoughts of replacing the Enhanced Fujita scale were also made due to it being outdated.

Provisions

If the bill is passed, the NOAA would have to update its procedure in predicting and communicating a tornado warning. The bill would require the NOAA to submit an action plan for a high resolution tornado forecasting program,[12] better cooperate with entities involving the warnings, and evaluate the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WICKER, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE TORNADO ACT . 26 April 2023 . Roger Wicker . 26 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Roger Wicker . Ted Cruz . John Thune . Chuck Grassley . Cindy Hyde-Smith . Todd Young . Marsha Blackburn . John Boozman . Gary Peters . A Bill (Tornado Act) . 118th United States Congress . 26 April 2023.
  3. Web site: 2023-04-26 . TORNADO Act introduced by Wicker, Hyde-Smith and colleagues . 26 April 2023 . The Vicksburg Post.
  4. Web site: Salers . Caleb . 2023-04-26 . Wicker, Hyde-Smith introduce legislation to improve tornado warning systems . 26 April 2023 . SuperTalk Mississippi Media.
  5. Web site: Zerigue . Neal . 2023-04-28 . What's inside the TORNADO Act? How can it make Arkansas safer? . 2023-04-30 . KARK.com . NBC.
  6. Web site: Young, Wicker introduce TORNADO Act to improve Severe Weather Forecasting . 2023-05-07 . The Pilot News . 4 May 2023. Washington D.C. . en.
  7. Web site: Flynn . Sara . 2022-03-15 . Ernst, Grassley work to improve NWS warnings, forecasting through 'TORNADO Act' . 26 April 2023 . Iowa News Now . CBS News.
  8. Web site: Kanost . Taylor . 2022-03-15 . Members of Congress want improvements to National Weather Service alert system . 26 April 2023 . We Are Iowa . Des Moines.
  9. Web site: Navarro . Adriana . 2022-03-21 . Federal lawmakers respond to recent warning delays with 'TORNADO Act' . 26 April 2023 . AccuWeather.
  10. News: Lenard . Diana . 2023-03-22 . Tornado legislation to improve forecasting passes through Senate Committee . 26 April 2023 . The Washington Post .
  11. Web site: Gunn . Matt . 2022-04-01 . Tornado Act introduced to help improve severe weather forecasting and communication . 26 April 2023 . KTVO .
  12. Web site: Box . Terri . 2023-05-02 . Senators Young and Wicker reintroduce TORNADO Act WBIW . 2023-05-09 . en-US.

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